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 Team News |
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Chiefs Ice Hockey Opens Season
Not everyone seems to know about them, but Massapequa has a varsity ice hockey team. Although its classified as a club, the team still wears the blue and gold, proudly representing Massapequa. The teams advisor is Mr. Catapano, a math teacher here at Massapequa High School.
We are looking forward to a successful season in the Nassau County Hockey League and hope to have fun and see many fans come out to the games, Catapano said when asked about the upcoming season.
The coaching staff led by head coach Tony DeMayo, assistant coaches Keith Foster and Jim Huether, are excited about the outlook for the 2003 04 season.
With 11 returning players and 5 new varsity players, this is a team that has excellent goaltending, creative playmakers, terrific team speed and heavy shots, said Assistant Coach Jim Huether.
The defense including seniors Kevin Carmody, Matt Carroll, Chad Goldman, Jason Romer and sophomore Nick Wolfer are capable of solid positioning and will deliver plenty of heavy hits to rack up the competition. The offense consists of Dan Birmingham, Eric Conway, Jason Iovine, Bryan Jones, Bryan Monette, Rob Pfeiffer, Evan Samuelson, Andrew Sheskier, Will Tichacek and Mark Valery, making 3 solid lines that know how to find the open player, move the puck and score often. The goaltending is rock solid with Patrick Jones between the pipesso goals will be hard to come by for the opponents.
Last season, the Chiefs played Bellmore-Merrick in the Nassau County Championship, in a Best-of-three series. The Chiefs finished fourth in a league of fifteen schools with a 13-4-3 record. They won the Nassau County Championship in their 2001-02 campaign.
The 20 game regular season begins Nov 16th vs. Oceanside, right after the football season. Games are played at Iceworks Arena in Syosset and Newbridge Arena in Bellmore. Last season the Chiefs lost 2-games-to-1 in the finals to Bellmore-Merrick and are looking for payback this year. The team wants to invite all their fans down to every game since the guys really like putting on a show. So get up, get out and cheer them on.
By Chris Testa
CHIEFS WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chiefs win Nassau County HS Ice Hockey Championship
The Massapequa Chiefs ice hockey team won the prestigious Nassau Challenge Cup in a hard fought battle against Long Beach, 2 games to 1.
To get to the cup the Chiefs finished the regular season in second place with a record of 14-3-3. After starting the season 0-3-1, the Chiefs amassed an undefeated string of 14 0-2 in the final 16 games. The second place finish gave the team a bye in the quarter final round of the playoffs.
The semi-final round pitted the Chiefs against archrival Bellmore-Merrick in a single elimination game. The Chiefs came out victorious 7-2. Eric Conway had 3 goals, Scott Goldman had 2 goals, and Kyle Concannon and Steve Palacek rounded out the scoring with 1 goal each. Assists on the goals were given to Greg Valenski (2), Nick Ferrara (2), Todd Coulard (2), Evan Samuelson and Steve Zaffuto. Goalie Pat Jones was outstanding throughout the game.
In the final round Long Beach, who upset first place Jericho 2-1 in their semi-final game, was determined to do the same to the Chiefs. The game was back and forth the first 2 periods, Long Beach scoring first, and then the Chiefs Adam Logiudice tied it with last second goal in the first period. The second period went the same way with LB taking a 2-1 lead and the Chiefs coming back to tie it with a goal from Concannon. This is when the Chiefs turned on the intensity in the third and Logiudice scored a short handed goal halfway though the period to give the Chiefs the lead and they never looked back adding 2 more goals from Valenski. Assisting on the goals were Concannon (2), Zaffuto (2), Steve Kline, Loguidice and Coulard. Dan Carey starred in goal for the Chiefs.
Game 2 of the 3 game series was even more intense. The Chiefs appeared to take an early lead 1:29 into the game, but the referee disallowed the goal. Logiudice scored halfway into the period and the Chiefs lead 1-0 after 1. LB scored a power play goal in the second period to tie it and that is how the period ended. LB scored another power play goal with 6:38 minutes left in the third to take a 2-1 lead but 30 seconds later Kevin Carmody tied it with a blast from the point. The game ended in regulation time tied at 2.
Sudden death overtime was supposed to decide the game but it wasnt meant to be, after 3 overtime periods it was still tied. Both Chiefs goaltenders Jones for Massapequa and Medrano for LB stopped shot after shot. Both teams were exhausted and the game was to be determined by a shootout. LB came out the winner on their 4th shot.
The Chiefs were ready for game 3 and couldnt wait for the game to start. Several hundred screaming fans were at the game and it seemed the Chiefs again would take an early lead when it appeared Valenski scored but the referee was out of position and didnt see the puck cross the goal line. Undeterred the Chiefs kept coming at LB and Conway scored with 6:24 minutes to go in the first period. Logiudice added a goal, with an assist from Mike Lacorte, with just seconds remaining in the first to give the team a 2-0 lead. Valenski finished the games scoring in the second period. From thereon coaches Tony DeMayo, Joe Clugston and Keith Foster, relied on their stingy defenseman Justin Huether, Mike Vience, Zaffuto, Carmody, Kline and goalie Carey to keep the Long Beach team scoreless. Keith Masseria had an outstanding game replacing Nick Ferrara who fractured his jaw in the second game. Backup goalie Sara Feit was ready if needed and was there cheering on her teammates.
CONGRATULATIONS CHIEFS
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We Are the Champions
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