Two of Albert Lea’s top girls’ hockey players will be reunited this winter at Gustavus Adolphus College.

Jenna Christensen will join the No. 1-ranked Gusties women’s hockey program and play alongside Albert Lea alum Laura Hillman this winter.

The duo are among the best girls’ hockey players to come through Albert Lea. Hillman ended her career with every major offensive record in tow while Christensen had comparable seasons to Hillman.

Hillman left Albert Lea with 359 career points (230 goals, 129 assists), which ranked 14th all-time in Minnesota girls’ high school hockey at the time.

Together they will be part of the one of the nation’s premier Division III programs.

Last season Gustavus held the longest unbeaten streak, 26 games, in D-III women’s hockey and went on to finish the season with a 22-2-4 mark, losing in the NCAA quarterfinals to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls 2-1.

Gustavus has not lost to a conference opponent in more than two years and won its sixth Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title and earned its seventh NCAA trip in nine years last season.

It will be the first time since the 2005-06 season that Hillman and Christensen will play on the same squad.

Hillman burst on to the season as a freshman for the Tigers, scoring 54 goals and tallying 31 assists. She continued to impress throughout her prep career with seasons of 33 goals and 33 assists and 43 goals and 33 assists.

Christensen recorded 41 points (25 goals, 16 assists) during her first varsity season as an eighth-grader and had her best season as a junior when she notched 33 goals and 41 assists.

For Christensen it was a tough decision considering her sister, Tessa, played for St. Olaf.

“It took me a long time to decide,” said Christensen, who plans to major in health and fitness. “It felt more right with the school, not really with the hockey. The school felt more comfortable.”

It’s been a trying year for Christensen who tore her anterior cruicate ligament in the first game of the soccer season and she spent the rest of the soccer season and hockey season watching from the bench. She was still a vocal member of each team and the experience of sitting out gave her a fresh perspective.

“It was hard at first, but you kind of take what you can,” said Christensen who plans on minoring in coaching in college. “It was fun to help out with the players and see it from a different angle.”

Hillman played in 15 games last season as a junior with the Gusties and scored two goals and recorded three assists as she too battled injuries. The highlight of the season for Hillman came when she scored the game-winning goal Jan. 17 against St. Thomas in a 1-0 victory that gave the Gusties the lead in the MIAC.

Hillman and Christensen won’t hit the ice at the same time, though, this season. Hillman is traveling to Spain in the fall to complete her student teaching and won’t join the hockey team until December. Christensen meanwhile will join the team beginning in June for workouts.

Bragging rights will be on the line next winter as Christensen will also get to compete against her sister Tessa next season as Tessa will help coach St. Olaf.