Aside from high school, Roy Nystrom and Lorne Grosso have spent nearly their entire careers competing either with or against each other.

Nystrom and Grosso, who coach Albert Lea and Rochester Mayo’s boys’ hockey teams, respectively, played on the same line together for the University of Minnesota men’s hockey team under the direction of legendary coach John Mariucci.

After graduating — Nystrom was one class ahead of Grosso — Nystrom went on to coach in Grafton and Grand Forks, N.D., and Grosso began the hockey program at Mayo. Seven years later, though, Nystrom took over in Albert Lea and friends and former teammates soon became rivals.

“It’s like the Stanley Cup when we play each other,” Nystrom said.

Grosso said the teams’ players think so, too.

“We don’t have to say much,” Grosso said. “They already know our relationship and they just play hard. In fact, I think it’s their most aggressive game, and it’s always a clean game. We always know everybody is going to give everything they’ve got.”

Grosso and the Spartans have the current bragging rights, as Mayo beat the Tigers 4-2 on Saturday night at Roy Nystrom Arena. But while the Spartans may have won that battle, Albert Lea has won two of the last three Big Nine Conference championships.

When they’re not playing against each other, Nystrom and Grosso are allies who share coaching advice, scouting reports and conversations on the phone about once a week. The two coaches sit together on game day, too, while the B-squad is on the ice, but with the Tigers and Spartans often both in contention for the conference title, Nystrom said he’s not always cheering for one of his oldest friends.

“I like to see him win and have success, but I’m not really rooting for him and he’s not really rooting for me,” Nystrom said. “If we both get to the state tournament that’s a different situation.”

Grosso’s win over Albert Lea on Saturday was only the fifth game he’s coached this season. He had quadruple bypass surgery on Nov. 28, 2011, and said the recovery process is slow.

“I go to rehab three times a week and am on an exercise program to keep my heart strong,” Grosso said.

He said he didn’t go to a practice until early January and still doesn’t skate on the ice but watches from behind the glass.

While Nystrom and Grosso once played together and are now coaching in the same conference, the two coaches have something even rarer in common — they are fourth and fifth, respectively, in the nation in career high school hockey coaching wins.

Nystrom said to win that many games, you’ve got to be around a long time.

Grosso spoke for both of them and said it’s easy.

“We love what we’re doing,” Grosso said. “Hockey has been in my whole life and I can’t see myself not coaching. I think Roy’s the same way.”

Grosso said expects he and Nystrom to coach as long as their health allows unless his wife has some sway. Grosso said that’s a difference between he and Nystrom — his wife wants to move south while Jan Nystrom wouldn’t know what to do without hockey.

“How could anyone quit something they really have a passion for, though,” Grosso said.