Justen Close snubbed for Big Ten Goaltender of the Year

Gophers goalie Justen Close was left off the list of Big Ten Goaltender of the Year finalists.

The Big Ten announced the finalists for its 2023-24 awards on Wednesday. While Close was snubbed, defenseman Sam Rinzel is among the Freshman of the Year finalists and Bob Motzko is a finalist for Coach of the Year. 

The three finalists for the Goaltender of the Year are Michigan State's Trey Augustine, Wisconsin's Kyle McClellan and Notre Dame's Ryan Bischel. How does  Close stack up to the three?

Record

• Kyle McClellan (26-11-2)
• Trey Augustine (22-9-3)
• Justen Close (22-9-5)
• Ryan Bischel (15-19-2)

Goals against average

• McClellan - 1.92
• Close - 2.33
• Bischel - 2.59
• Augustine - 2.92

Save percentage

• McClellan - .931
• Bischel - .924
• Close - .923
• Augustine - .917

Shutouts

• McClellan - 7
• Close - 4
• Augustine - 3
• Bischel - 3

Close was a finalist in 2022-23 but lost to Bischel. The last time a Gopher goalie won the award was Jack LaFontaine in 2020-21.

Motzko has won the Big Ten Coach of the Year three of the past four seasons. Minnesota has had a Freshman of the Year winner since Sammy Walker in the 2018-19 season.