Frozen Four Insider: Gophers’ Knies, Close preview National Semifinal

The storied history of Gopher hockey included 21 Frozen Four appearances and five national championships, but it had been a while since either of those totals had gone up.

This year, the Gophers snapped their eight-year Frozen Four drought and are in Boston seeking what could be the program’s first national championship since back-to-back titles in 2002-2003.

KSTP Sports’ Chris Long is at the Frozen Four in Boston, click the video box on this page to see his chats with Gophers goalie Justen Close and forward Matthew Knies ahead of Thursday night’s National Semifinal matchup against Minnesota State – Mankato

The Gophers play Minnesota State – Mankato in the second NCAA National Semifinal in Boston Thursday night at 7:30pm Central Time on ESPNU.

The Gophers have a history in Boston, it’s where the 1974 team won the program’s first-ever NCAA title.

It’s a rematch of last year’s Regional Final that saw Minnesota State knock the Gophers out to earn their first-ever trip to the Frozen Four.

Thursday’s semifinal features two of the hottest goalies in the nation: Minnesota’s Justin Close and Mankato’s Dryden McKay, a finalist for both the Hobey Baker (national player of the year) and Richter Awards (national goalie of the year).

RELATED: Frozen Four Insider: MSU-Mankato’s Sandelin, McKay Preview National Semifinal

Close has been stellar since taking over for still-reigning Richter Award winner Jack LaFontaine, who left the Gophers to sign with the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes in the middle of the season.

Close barely played behind LaFontaine, but is 14-4 in 18 starts since assuming the staring role. He has a 1.83 goals against average with three shutouts.

Denver and Michigan play in the first semifinal on Thursday.

The semifinal winners play for the National Championship on Saturday.