CRANBERRY TWP — Forget about nerves.

Michael Singel and Tayler Wagner are ready to play some hockey.

The two Cranberry Township residents and freshmen at Seneca Valley are members of the Pittsburgh Hornets 1993 Birth Year AAA team that will be competing at the U.S. National Ice Hockey Championships this week in Hackensack, N.J.

With only 12 district champion teams competing, it will be the biggest tournament either of them has played in to this point.

"The Hornets made the same tournament a few years ago and finished second," said Singel, one of two goalies on the team. "Hopefully, we can win it. But I'm not really worried about being nervous."

The Hornets' season began in late August and they've compiled an record of 34-14-7, which included two tournaments in Toronto and one each in Chicago and Port Huron, Mich.

Their latest victory was a 3-0 win over Columbus (Ohio) in last month's district championship in Youngstown.

"It's always an honor to represent your district," said Hornets coach Jeff Potter. "And we've had a tremendous number of injuries this season. We've had to play with just 12 skaters several times."

The Hornets will enter the national event, which begins Wednesday, with 18 players. The team is guaranteed to play at least three games.

Singel and Wagner are both in their first year on the team, but have proven to be key contributors.

Wagner, one of six defenders on the team, uses his size to his advantage.

"He's about (6-feet-2)," said Potter. "A 14-year-old kid who stands 6-2 is usually clumsy, but that's not the case with Tayler.

"He's very skilled and contributed right away this season."

"It was just working hard in practice," said Wagner. "I played at this age level before, but for a different team."

Singel has started in goal in 50 percent of the team's games this year.

"Our other goalie is established and very good," said Potter. "But Mike has started half our games because he's done an unbelievable job of stepping in from the younger age level."

Whatever the outcome in New Jersey, the experience will be one Singel and Tayler won't soon forget.

"It's definitely going to stick out as one of the biggest events of my hockey career," Wagner said. "I'm glad we got there, but it would be nice to cap the season with a national championship."

The Pittsburgh Hornets play their home games at the Robert Morris University Island Sports Center. Former Hornets players include current NHL players Ryan Malone (Pittsburgh), R.J. Umberger and Nate Guenin (Philadelphia) and John Zeiler (Los Angeles).

Notes: Wagner is also a member of the SV varsity hockey team. ... Two other SV players, sophomores Logan Pfeffer and Kalib Schwab, will be playing in the national tournament for a Midget AAA 16U team.