ST. PETER, Minn. – Hailey Holland didn’t end her career with a second national championship.

But she is going out on top.

The Aberdeen native and Cougars hockey alum wrapped up a decorated collegiate career at Gustavus Adolphus recently, ending with a second straight MIAC Offensive Player of the Year, a 2-time All-American and as a finalist (for the second straight year) for the NCAA Division III ACHA National Player of the Year.

All told, Holland goes down as one of the most prolific scorers in Gustavus women’s hockey history. She tallied 30 points this season (19 goals, 11 assists), just the fourth player in team history to record three 30-point seasons.

“I’ve had a really great career,” Holland said. “Just getting to know the people I did and getting coached to be better as a player and as a person. I think I’ve grown a lot.”

In all fairness, Holland could have called it a career after last season’s national championship. But the senior came back for one last season – for a chance to defend that national title and the chance to play with her sister Kaitlyn.

While that title defense fell just short – the Gusties lost in the national semifinals – Holland has no regrets.

“It’s fun,” she said of being able to play a final season with her sister. “You just get that remembering your last time playing hockey, I was doing it with my best friend.”

There was heartache, too, of course. One of Holland’s teammates, Jori Jones, was killed in a car crash last summer.

Holland said it was important for her to be a role model for her teammates.

“For sure the sophomore class,” she said. “They needed a lot of help and I took on making sure they were all OK. I knew how close they all were. Just reminding everyone that we’re all going through the same thing.”

Holland said she would remind her teammates how much she loved them while making sure everyone remembered “how much of a blessing it was to have (Jones) in our lives.”

And through it all, Holland maintained the high level of offensive production on the ice that has been characteristic of her game all her life.

“It was nice but you’re getting the recognition you feel like you deserve,” Holland said. “But I know it’s not just me. Having a team that’s that good, someone is bound to be recognized. Part of our whole thing is remembering our teammates are the ones that get you to that point and you wouldn’t get there without everyone else.”

Still, Holland said her lasting memories of her career won’t be tied up in accolades.

“You don’t really remember how many awards you got or the scores of any games,” she said, “but you remember who you’re with.”

With hockey in the relatively recent rearview mirror, Holland said it’s time to turn her attention on a new pursuit – grad school. Holland is currently pursuing a master’s degree in occupational therapy at the University of South Dakota.