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Gophers' Justen Close named Big Ten First Star of the Week

Goaltender had 62 saves in weekend series against border rival Wisconsin.
Nolan O'Hara|
Gophers' Justen Close named Big Ten First Star of the Week
Gophers' Justen Close named Big Ten First Star of the Week

Gophers men’s hockey goaltender Justen Close was named the Big Ten First Star of the Week on Tuesday for his efforts in Minnesota's weekend series in Madison, Wis., against border rival Wisconsin.

It’s the second weekly honor this season for Close, a graduate student, who had 40 saves on 41 shots in a 2-1 overtime win over the Badgers on Friday and followed that performance up by stopping 22 of 23 shots in a 1-1 tie against Wisconsin on Saturday.

It’s the fifth straight week that a Gophers player has garnered a weekly award from the Big Ten. Seven Minnesota players have gotten nods this season, including Close (Oct. 24, Tuesday), Rhett Pitlick (Nov. 7, Dec. 5, Jan. 23), Jimmy Snuggerud (Oct. 17, Jan. 10), Oliver Moore (Jan. 30), Sam Rinzel (Jan. 16), Bryce Brodzinski (Nov. 28) and Brody Lamb (Nov. 14).

Close has a 15-7-5 record with 760 saves, a 2.41 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage. He ranks eighth in the country in save percentage and 15th in GAA. 

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Nolan O'Hara
NOLAN O'HARA

Nolan O'Hara covers all things Minnesota sports, primarily the Timberwolves, for Bring Me The News and Sports Illustrated's On SI network. He previously worked as a copy editor at the St. Paul Pioneer Press and is a graduate of the University of Minnesota's Hubbard School of Journalism. His work has appeared in the Pioneer Press, Ratchet & Wrench magazine, the Minnesota Daily and a number of local newspapers in Minnesota, among other publications.

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