It seems like it has been an entire season since Brunswick-area ice hockey players Cam Heatley and Jason Blier played in the Tier II state championship game against Biddeford.

In truth, it has.

The duo are members of the undefeated Casco Bay U- 16 team that captured the state title way back in November prior to the start of the high school hockey season. They will suit up April 3-7 in Troy, Mich., for the Tier II U- 16 USA Hockey National Championship.

Heatley, a defenseman for Mike Routhier’s Brunswick High School squad, and Blier, a goaltender who manned the cage for Cheverus, will get their first look at Nationals on April 3 against Mission Hockey of Arizona. Face-off is set for 9:15 a.m.

“This is the first time I have ever won states, so to have this chance is something I will always remember,” said Heatley, who recently participated in tryouts for the Casco Bay U-18 squad that begins in August. “The fact that we have some Brunswick kids going to nationals is pretty big. We even saw more Brunswick kids at the Casco Bay tryouts recently, which says something about the program.”

“It is very exciting to represent Maine at Nationals,” said Blier. “I have never had this chance. I have been on teams that advanced to states, but never came away with the win.”

“Whenever you can get to the National level, it is a special thing,” said Brunswick High School boys hockey coach Mike Routhier. “The tournament will provide memories that those players will take with them. There is a lot of talent at that tournament, and it will be great for Cam and Jason to be a part of it.”

The Maine contingent will also face the Nashville Junior Predators of Tennessee on April 4 (5:15 p.m.) and the Charleston Junior Stingrays of South Carolina on April 5 (11 a.m.). The top two teams in each pool advance to the quarterfinals on April 6, with the winners facing each other later the same day. The National title game is set for April 7.

The Casco Bay team is coached by former Lewiston Maineiacs coach Ed Harding.

For Heatley, Casco Bay has been a home for most of his youth hockey playing days, except for brief stops in the Midcoast Youth Hockey League and a year in Lewiston. He said playing in Nationals alongside his friend Blier is something the junior Brunswick defenseman has dreamed about.

“I have played for Casco Bay most of my life, and throughout high school you kind of forgot about the National tournament, with the team only practicing a few times, so it is great to have this chance,” said Heatley. “Jason and I have been childhood friends, so it is nice to play together again on this team.”

“This is my first year with Casco Bay, having played most of my youth hockey in Lewiston, so to have this chance with this team and playing with Cam is great and exciting,” said Blier.

Heatley has dreams of how far his Casco Bay team can go.

“We just want to go out there, get a win and see what happens from there,” said Heatley. “We don’t know what to look forward to against teams out there. We don’t know them. But, this tournament will be something I will always remember.”

As far as preparations go, the Casco Bay team only has a short time to prepare before heading to Michigan.

“We will practice for three days straight, and then off to nationals, but all of the guys played high school hockey this year, so we have been on the ice a lot,” said Blier, who was the starting goaltender for the Stags this season. “For me, getting a lot of shots on me during the high school season has really helped me get ready. I think we are ready.”