Lundberg, Johnston sign with Riveters

by Ryan Fay

Former Union women's hockey players Shenae Lundberg and Ashley Johnston will be teammates again next season.

The pair signed with the Brooklyn-based New York Riveters on Sunday. The Riveters are one of four teams in the National Women's Hockey League, a new professional league that begins play this fall.

Lundberg (l) and Johnston (r)

Lundberg, a goalie, appeared 110 career games with the Dutchwomen from 2011-15. She ranks first in program history in wins (20), shutouts (6) and saves (3,023). Her 2.90 goals-against average is second-best in team history.

"I've trained pretty much my whole life looking for an opportunity like this and it's pretty special to be a part of something so new and revolutionary in women's hockey," Lundberg said. "This is the next big step and I'm just really lucky to be a part of it."

Johnston played for Union from 2010-14 and posted five goals and 14 assists in 130 career games. The defenseman was a Hockey Humanitarian finalist in 2014 for her research and development of a prosthetic limb made to grow as a child grows. She stayed at Union last season to serve as the Dutchwomen's volunteer assistant coach.

"I work really hard. I have a lot of grit, so day in and day out my teammates will know what to expect. It'll be the same hard play every single time," Johnston said. "This is a huge step for women's hockey -- the first paid professional hockey league. To be a part of that is very humbling and I'm pretty honored."

Riveters general manager Dani Rylan likes what Lundberg and Johnston can bring to the team.

"We're bringing in two solid, consistent players with Lundberg and Johnston," said Rylan. "Shenae helped bring Union to the next level and we look for her to have a similar impact with the Riveters. Ashley is a strong blueliner who's always in the right place and not afraid to jump up into the play."

Follow @UnionHockeyBlog