The Jacksonville Icemen have announced that they have signed goaltender Justen Close to a contract for the 2024-25 season. Close, 26, is entering his first pro season after playing five years at the University of Minnesota, where he went 62-25-6 with a 2.18 GAA, .924SV%, and 13 shutouts in 100 games with the Golden Gophers. His career shutouts (13) and his SV% (.924) are tied for first in Gopher’s History and are second in career GAA (2.18); his six shutouts during the 2022-23 season are second in Gopher’s History. The Kindersley, Saskatchewan native spent the last three seasons as the team’s starter as he led the Gophers to back-to-back B1G Regular Season Championships. Close is the first goaltender and 15th player signed for the 2024-25 season.
Last season, the Icemen used only three goaltenders: Matt Vernon, Micheal Houser (AHL Deal with Rochester Americans), and Joe Murdaca. Vernon, who has yet to be signed by the Icemen, had an incredible rookie season, going 25-10-3 with a 2.67 GAA, .909SV%, and one shutout, and would be named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team, ECHL Second All-Star Team, and finished second behind Taylor Gauthier for Goaltender of the Year. The son of Mike Vernon would also add two more shutouts in the first round of the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs vs Florida Everblades. If the Icemen are able to re-sign Vernon, I would expect Close to be the team’s backup next season, which would give the Icemen a very young and solid goaltending duo heading into next season.
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