Tyler Spreng’s string of high-pressure games didn’t stop after the Mars hockey goalie played in the Pennsylvania state championship game.

Spreng was in net for a shootout the next week during round-robin play for the North Pittsburgh Wildcats at the Toyota-USA Hockey Youth Tier II U16AA National Championships last weekend in Plano, Texas.

The Wildcats lost to the St. Clare (Mich.) Shores after Spreng made 35 stops in a 2-1 loss during round-robin play.

The Shores went on to win the national championship.

“It was great. That was my best game up to that point,” Spreng said. “We ended up losing, but it was great to be up there with one of the best teams in the country.”

The Wildcats went 1-1-1 and missed out on knockout round play.

North Pittsburgh lost to the South Shore (Mass.) Kings 4-2 and beat the New Jersey Jaguars, 5-3.

Seneca Valley’s Chris Lipnicky and Mars’ Keaton Hanna also played on the second-ever team in the Wildcats’ history to reach the national tournament.

Lipnicky believed they could win playing their style of hockey.

“We score a lot of dirty goals,” Lipnicky said. “We got to the net and put in rebounds.”

North Pittsburgh advanced to the national championships by beating the Steel City Ice Renegades to win the Mid-American crown March 9 at Harmarville BladeRunners.

The Wildcats finished the season 35-14-3 and beat three teams — Ashburn (Va.), Tampa Elite and Team Toledo — that were ranked in the top 10 nationally.

North Pittsburgh had players from 12 different school districts, including Spencer Price, who is from Ohio.

“This team came together between last year and this year,” said Wildcats coach Mark Landman, who also led North Pittsburgh to nationals in 2011. “We added a couple of left-handed shots on defense that helped us out immensely. All our defensemen last year had right-handed shots.”

Lipnicky netted a team-high three goals and tied for the team lead with four points. That’s given him motivation headed into the offseason.

“I’m trying to keep my speed and strength up,” Lipnicky said. “The stronger you are, the more everything else benefits from it. I’m looking to train a lot this summer.”

Hanna and Spreng were playing in nationals following a grueling stretch of high school playoffs.

Mars beat Quaker Valley 5-2 to win the Penguins Cup at Consol Energy March 14 Center before falling 5-2 to Bayard Rustin in the state finals March 21 at Pegula Ice Arena.

“Playing at club nationals will help a lot,” said Hanna, who scored a goal. “The first game at Consol I was beyond nervous and at states I was beyond that. Next year, I’ll have a lot less nerves and go out and play.”

Playing for both teams involved more focus for Hanna.

For North Pittsburgh, he’s a defenseman. On Mars, Hanna plays forward.

“It was little more difficult for me, probably,” Hanna said. “One day I’ll be playing forward. the next day I’ll be playing defense. It’s tough for me, but it’s bad for everyone.”

Spreng finished the tournament fifth in save percentage at .917.

He’s hoping to have this stressful of a spring for the next two years.

“I want to use these experiences and grow off them,” Spreng said. “It’s been a great year and I’d like to repeat it for my last two years.”