The Jacksonville Icemen announced that they have signed goaltender Justen Close through the 2024-25 season. Close, 26, is entering his first professional season after playing five years at the University of Minnesota, where he went 62-25-6 with a 2.18 GAA, .924 SV% and 13 shutouts in 100 games with the Golden Gophers. His career shutouts (13) and SV% (.924) rank first in Gophers history and second in career GAA (2.18); his six shutouts in the 2022-23 season are the second-most in Gophers history. The Kindersley, Saskatchewan native has been a starter for the team the past three seasons, leading 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 goalies: Matt Vernon, Micheal Houser (AHL contract with Rochester Americans), and Joe Murdaca. Vernon, who is not yet signed by the Icemen, had an incredible rookie season, going 25-10-3 with a 2.67 goals-against average, .909 SV%, and one shutout. He was named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team and ECHL Second All-Star Team, and finished second to Taylor Gauthier in the Goaltender of the Year voting. The son of Mike Vernon also posted two more shutouts in the first round of the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs against the Florida Everblades. If the Icemen can re-sign Vernon, I expect Close to be the team’s backup next season, which would give the Icemen a very young and solid goaltending duo for next season.

Armand Klisivitch

Inside The Rink ECHL Manager | Senior Editor and Accredited Reporter for the Adirondack Thunder & Worcester Railers.

ECHL: Savannah Ghost Pirates sign striker Devon Paliani for the 2024-2025 season

On August 28, 2024, the Savannah Ghost Pirates announced that they had acquired forward Devon Paliani in a three-way trade. Savannah also signed Paliani for the 2024-2025 season. During Paliani’s ECHL career, he played for the Maine Mariners, Worcester Railers, Toledo Walleye, Reading Royals and now the Savannah Ghost Pirates. During this time (…)

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ECHL: Reading Royals acquire Logan Britt in three-way trade

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