The Massapequa Chiefs Varsity Ice Hockey Team won the prestigious Nassau Challenge Cup in a hard-fought battle against Bethpage, two games to one.

To get to the cup the Chiefs finished the regular season in first place with a record of 18-1-2.

The semifinal round pitted the Chiefs against archrival Bellmore-Merrick in a single elimination game. The Chiefs came out victorious 7-2. Eric Conway had three goals, Rob Pfeiffer, Evan Samuelson, Bryan Jones and Mark Valery rounded out the scoring with one goal each. Assists on the goals were given to Pfeiffer (3) Jones(2), Dan Birmingham, Andrew Sheskier and Will Tichacek. With the physical play of Jason Iovine, Bellmore-Merrick had nothing left to throw at the Chiefs.

In the final round, Bethpage upset second-place Long Beach 5-4 in its semifinal game and was determined to do the same to the Chiefs. The game was back-and-forth the first two periods with Massapequa scoring first on a goal by Bryan Monette. The second period, Bethpage took a 2-1 lead and added to its lead early in the third period. The Chiefs turned on the intensity in the third period, but came up short, getting only one goal by Conway.

Games two and three were all Chiefs. Bethpage tried to use the "trap" to no avail as the talented Chiefs team overpowered the Golden Eagles 5-0 in both games. The Chiefs were ready and couldn't wait for the game to start. All the scoring in game two came from Evan Samuelson's three goals, two assists, and Pfeiffer's two goals and three assists. Kevin Carmody also had an assist. In game three, Pfeiffer added to his goal total with two more; Samuelson added one along with Jason Romer and Conway. Assisting on the goals were Tichacek (2), Valery, Monette, Matt Carroll and Birmingham.

From there on, coaches Tony DeMayo, Keith Foster, Jim Huether and Ronnie D'Angelo, relied on their stingy defenseman Chad Goldman, Carroll, Carmody, Romer, Nick Wolfer and Goalie Pat Jones, who was outstanding throughout the playoffs, kept the Bethpage team scoreless. Backup goalie Andrew Marino was ready if needed and was there cheering on his teammates.