One more hockey story before we switch over to the Ball Report.
After finishing his college career at the University of Minnesota, former Kindersley Jr. Klippers goaltender Justen Close caught on with the ECHL's Jacksonville Icemen this season, and the 26-year-old goaltender turned in a great season with a 16-10-2 record, 2.32 GAA, and .932 SV% in 29 games played.
Close was rewarded on Wednesday for his standout season, earning the goalie spot on the ECHL's 2024-25 All-Rookie Team.
Klippers fans, and really anyone who followed Close's career through junior and college were excited to see what the prairie born goaltender could do at the professional level. In his time with the Klippers Close won SJHL Goaltender of the Year in back-to-back years, before going on to Minnesota where he would finish tied with the most shutouts in school history at 13, now adding the ECHL All-Rookie team honour to his resume.
Close and Icemen have clinched a playoff spot with only a few games left in the ECHL regular season. Check out a few highlights from Close during the season below, and some behind the scenes mic'd up content as well courtesy the Jacksonville Icemen.