University of Minnesota Athletics
2022-23 Men's Hockey Roster
Close, Justen
Jersey Number 1
Justen Close
- Position:
- Goaltender
- Ht./Wt.:
- 5-10 / 175
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Kindersley, Saskatchewan
- Previous Team:
- Kindersley Klippers (SJHL)
- Major:
- Entrepreneurial Management
Bio
| PRONUNCIATION |
• Tied for first in Gophers history for career shutouts (13)
• Tied for first in Gophers history for career save percentage (.924)
• Second in Gophers history for career goals-against average (2.18)
• Sixth in Gophers history for career wins (62)
• Sixth in Gophers history for career games played as a goaltender (101)
• Seventh in Gophers history for career minutes played as a goaltender (5,625)
• Ninth in Gophers history for career saves (2,470)
• Second in Gophers history for single-season shutouts (6 in 2022-23)
• Seventh in Gophers history for single-season shutouts (4 in 2023-24)
• Third in Gophers history for single-season goals against average (1.95 in 2021-22)
• Sixth in Gophers history for single-season goals against average (2.02 in 2022-23)
• Fourth in Gophers history for single-season save percentage (.927 in 2022-23)
• Fifth in Gophers history for single-season save percentage (.925 in 2021-22)
• Sixth in Gophers history for single-season save percentage (.923 in 2023-24)
• Fourth in Gophers history for single-season saves (1,052 in 2023-24)
• Signed one-year, ECHL contract with the Jacksonville Icemen on Aug. 28, 2024
2023-24 | GRADUATE STUDENT
Mike Richter Award Semifinalist
All-Big Ten Honorable Mention Team
Big Ten Conference First Star of the Week (Oct. 24, Feb. 6, Feb. 13)
College Sports Communicators Academic All-America First Team
College Sports Communicators Academic All-District
AHCA Krampade All-American Scholar
Big Ten Distinguished Scholar
Academic All-Big Ten
Minnesota's Lindahl Outstanding Student-Athlete Achievement Award
• Posted a 22-10-5 record in goal across 38 starts, including a 5-3-3 mark against teams ranked in the top 10
• Ended the season by making 1,052 saves, the fifth-most in the country
• Tallied a .923 save percentage, which ranked seventh nationally, while his 2.36 goals-against average sat 17th among all NCAA goaltenders
• Registered back-to-back shutouts twice during the year coming Oct. 14-20 and Feb. 9-10
• Three of his four shutouts came on home ice at 3M Arena at Mariucci
• Put up a 0.59 goals-against average and a .981 save percentage during a five-game unbeaten streak (4-0-1) from Jan. 27 to Feb. 10, allowing just three total goals to Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Penn State
• Turned away a career-high 46 shots in a home win over Penn State (Mar. 9) in the Big Ten Conference Tournament Quarterfinals
• Made at least 30 saves 15 times for the season, including three outings of 40 or more
• Owned a 2.22 goals-against average and a .936 save percentage in five postseason games
• Allowed two or fewer goals in 22 appearances
• Led all NCAA goaltenders with four assists
• Earned fifth letter
2022-23 | SENIOR
Mike Richter Award Semifinalist
Big Ten Goaltender of the Year Finalist
All-Big Ten Second Team
Big Ten All-Tournament Team
Minnesota's Tom Mohr Playoff MVP
Big Ten First Star of the Week (Dec. 6)
Big Ten Second Star of the Week (Nov. 8, Jan. 17)
Big Ten Third Star of the Week (Feb. 28)
College Sports Communicators Academic All-District
Academic All-Big Ten
• Recorded a 26-10-1 record in goal, while making 37 appearances and 36 starts
• Finished the season as the Big Ten Conference leader in goals against average (2.02), wins (26) and shutouts (6) and was second in save percentage (.927), all of which ranked in the top four nationally
• Posted six shutouts for the year, the second-most in a single season in program history, one shy of the record
• His .927 save percentage and 2.02 goals against average ranked fourth and sixth, respectively, for a Gopher in single-season history
• Made a career-high 40 saves during a road win at Michigan State (Dec. 3)
• Put together a five-game winning streak from Feb. 17 to Mar. 11, allowing just six goals in that stretch
• Held opponents to two or fewer goals in 25 appearances
• Had a 1.78 goals against average and a .931 save percentage in 19 home appearances for a 15-4-0 record
• Registered a 2.01 GAA, .927 save percentage and a 3-1-0 record during the NCAA tournament guiding the team to a runner-up finish
• Owned a 2.03 GAA and a .927 save percentage when facing a top-15 program and a 2.13 GAA against top-10 foes with a .924 save percentage
• Picked up his second career assist and lone point of the campaign against Penn State (Nov. 10)
• Honored by the conference as a star of the week four times during the regular season, tied for the most of any goaltender in the league
• Earned fourth letter
2021-22 | JUNIOR
NCAA All-Regional selection
Honorable Mention All-Big Ten
Mike Richter Award Watch List
Minnesota's Dr. V. George Nagobads Unsung Hero Award
University of Minnesota's Male Breakthrough Athlete of the Year
Big Ten First Star of the Week (Mar. 1)
Academic All-Big Ten
• Helped the Gophers win the 2021-22 Big Ten Regular-Season Championship and advance to the NCAA Frozen Four for the first time since 2014
• Made 21 appearances in goal posting a 14-5-0 record, including a nine-game winning streak
• Picked up the win in his first career start, a 4-1 victory over Alaska (Jan. 14)
• Posted a 1.95 GAA that ranks third in single-season program history and was ninth in the NCAA
• Boasted a .925 save percentage that sits fourth in Gophers single-season history
• Earned his first career point with an assist in a 5-1 win at Notre Dame (Jan. 28)
• Made a career-high 37 saves on 38 shots during a 3-1 win at Penn State (Feb. 18)
• Recorded three shutouts on the season with the first two of his career on back-to-back nights, making 20 saves in a 5-0 win over Wisconsin (Feb. 25) and 24 saves in an 8-0 win over the Badgers (Feb. 26)
• Became the first Gopher to shutout UW in back-to-back games since George Clausen (Feb. 9-10, 1934)
• Registered his third shutout of the season with 24 saves in a 3-0 win over Western Michigan (Mar. 27) in the NCAA Northeast Regional Final as Minnesota punched its ticket to the NCAA Frozen Four
• Four of his five losses came to teams that finished the year ranked nationally in the top 10 (three came against Frozen Four teams that ranked in the top five)
• Earned third letter
2020-21 | SOPHOMORE
Academic All-Big Ten
• Appeared in one game for the Gophers as a sophomore, playing 20 minutes of relief in goal against Wisconsin
• Earned second letter
2019-20 | FRESHMAN
• Tallied three relief appearances for the Gophers as a freshman
• Made his Maroon and Gold debut Oct. 25, 2019 against Minnesota Duluth
• Also appeared in both of Minnesota’s exhibition games for the 2019-20 season, including a start against the U.S. Under-18 Team
• The 2019-20 season ended on March 12, 2020, when the Big Ten and NCAA announced they were ceasing competitions and championships because of COVID-19 public health concerns as Minnesota prepared for the Big Ten tournament semifinals
• Earned first letter
JUNIORS
• Spent three seasons with the Kindersley Klippers in the SJHL (2016-19)
• Named the SJHL Goaltender of the Year in 2018-2019 and 2017-2018 and was a finalist for the CJHL's Top Goaltender in 2018-19
• Led the SJHL with 25 wins during the 2018-19 regular season, while finishing third in save percentage (.928) and goals against average (2.19)
• Previously skated for the Tisdale Trojans in the SMHL
PERSONAL
• Son of Mike and Catherine Close
• Has a brother, Braden
• Father, Mike, played volleyball at the University of Saskatchewan
• Brother, Braden, played sledge hockey for the Team Canada National Development Team
• Graduated from the Carlson School of Management in May 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Business degree majoring in Entrepreneurial Management
• Completed a Master of Education degree in Sports Management in May 2024
2025-26 Non-Conference Schedule
Monday, August 11
Herb Brooks Statue
Wednesday, August 06
Meet the Newcomers: Teddy Townsend
Friday, July 18
Meet The Newcomers: Jacob Rombach
Friday, July 11
