The husband-wife team of Mike and Kathy Strobel will be going separate ways this weekend.

A long ways.

Their hockey-playing sons, Justin and Connor, will be competing at USA Nationals, but not as teammates. Justin is a forward for the 16U Class AA Armstrong Arrows while Connor is a goaltender for the 14U Pittsburgh Icemen.

The Arrows, based out of the Belmont Sports Complex in Kittanning, are playing this weekend in Frisco, Texas. The Icemen, based out of the Ice Connection in Valencia, are playing in Coral Springs, Fla.

“We saw this possibility coming and we want to support our boys,” Mrs. Strobel said. “I have a brother living in Florida, so that’s where I’m going. I’ll watch Connor play and get a family visit in.

“Mike is going to Texas to watch Justin’s tournament.”

The Strobels have a third son, Aidan, who plays U14 hockey for the Butler Valley Dawgs. Justin also plays for the Butler High School team.

That’s three sons, four teams — and one very busy winter.

“They are all playing in the programs best suited for them,” Mrs. Strobel said.

Neither Justin nor Connor is alone in terms of having neighboring players on their respective teams.

The Armstrong Arrows were 46-8-5 this season after reaching the USA Nationals championship game a year ago. They lost that contest, 7-4, to the Maine Moose.

Justin Strobel scored 11 goals and tallied 17 assists during the regular season this year. Ronan Miller of Butler plays on his line and scored 17 goals and 16 assists.

One of the Arrows’ defensive pairings — Jerome Oliver Jr. and Taite Dusheck — are from Butler as well. Oliver had 14 goals and 14 assists, Dusheck seven goals and 14 assists in the regular season.

“We were ranked No. 1 in the country last year as an extremely young team,” second-year 16U Arrows coach Lee Grafton said. “A bunch of our kids were only 14. Even now, those same kids are 15 and most of these teams at nationals are all 16-year-olds.

“We put this team together last year with a goal of getting to nationals. Armstrong had never had a team get there. This year, these kids’ goal is to win nationals.”

The 16U Arrows are ranked No.8 in the nation going into the tournament.

“This team is definitely good enough. We’re extremely balanced scoring-wise,” Grafton said. “Jerome is a talented player who can play forward or defense. He’s been an offensive defenseman all season for us.

“He and Taite Dusheck, Ronan Miller and Justin ... Those kids just work well together.”

Seven Butler County players are on the 14U Pittsburgh Icemen team. They all played for the North Pittsburgh Wildcats last year.

“It’s basically the same team,” said Mike Fritz, the team’s coach. “I was part of a group that bought the Ice Connection and we decided to bring the team over here.

“It’s the same kids, just a different home, name and logo, basically.”

Joining Connor on the Icemen roster are defenseman Tyler Kennedy, forwards Benny Thrash and Bekk McClaine from Butler, forward Sean Newman and defenseman Owen Hixon from Mars, and forward Tyler Kovac from Seneca Valley.

Pine-Richland products Richard Wild (forward), Michael Fritz (defenseman) and Danny Stauffer (goalie) are on the team as well.

“All fantastic kids,” Fritz said. “They’re so easy to work with. We stress team stuff rather than individual goals and assists. I don’t even keep records that way.

“Connor is very methodical and poised in the net. He rarely gets rattled. There’s a calm and confidence about him that permeates to the whole team.”

The Icemen are 34-16-6 this season, with many of those games coming against larger Class AAA teams.

“We played the most difficult schedule in all of Tier II hockey,” Fritz said. “That has paid off. The kids have gotten better because of that.

“We’re playing with a lot of speed and confidence right now. We’re riding a 12-game winning streak. These kids are ready for this tournament.”

Both tournaments begin Thursday and run through Sunday.