The West Michigan Phantoms closed out the team's historic 10-Year-Anniversary-Season the best way that it could...with a Championship! The Phantoms would rally from down three goals in the first period to ultimately climb back into contention. The Dess Boys and Phantoms would create a very entertaining and back-and-fourth third period before forcing the game into overtime. Having fought through a two-man disadvantage late in the third period, the Phantoms would be presented a two-man advantage of there own during the final minute of regulation and despite not registering pay-dirt before the horn, would waste no time at the start of overtime to put the final nail in the coffin for the top seeded Dess Boys. Just sixteen seconds into overtime, the Phantom's Matt Myers would receive a sweet-lead feed from Sean Wert and the Gong Show Hockey forward would capture his and the team's most important goal of the season, as the former Grandville senior would send an ice-level shot dead-center behind the Dess Boy netminder for the Phantom's championship win. With-in seconds, two groups of Phantoms were in an all-out celebration as the underdogs were able to upend and upset the regular season leaders by the final of 7-6 in Overtime. For the Phantoms, the championship would mark the first franchise ice championship and the seventh overall for the Yellow Shirts. As mentioned, the Phantoms had to come from behind to attain the championship. Three Dess Boys goals in the span of 2:42 in the middle of the opening frame would put the Phantoms well-behind the eight ball against the regular season's highest scoring team, including one Dess Boys goal which was scored shorthanded. Despite the odds, the Phantoms did not give up and displayed the heart and sole of a team willing to still make a run. Matt Zehr would kick-off the Phantom's rally just 41 seconds following the third goal by the Pink Shirts. Zehr's strike would be assisted by longtime teammate and 'Meat-Lovers-Line' forward Trent Kik, as the legendary Phantom line would draw first blood for the Phantom squad. Andrew Erickson would keep the Yellowish Momentum going, as the Phantom's leading scoring would bring his team to within one goal just 14 seconds after, as Nate Skoboda would setup Erickson for the Phantom's second goal of the night. The Dess Boys would hold a 3-2 lead entering the second period of play. Just over four minutes into the middle period, the Dess Boys would halt the Phantom rally with the team's fourth goal of the night. However, from that moment the Phantoms would go on a tare during the final four minutes of the middle period. Matt Mead would begin the Phantom's four-goal assault, as the longtime Phantom would receive a set-up from brother Sean Wert deep inside the Dess Boys zone and with quick shot would beat the Dess Boy goaltender to draw the Phantoms back to with-in one goal at 3-4. Less than the minute later, the Phantoms Trent Kik would net his second point of the night, as the Meat-Lovers-Line Veteran would deadlock the duel at 4-4 (assisted by Keith Moorman and Matt Zehr). Just 33 second later, Kik would come through again to give the Phantoms their first lead of the night at 5-4, as the former Sparta Ice Hockey coach would receive a set-up dish from Keith Moorman once again. Late in the second period with the Phantom's Wes Harmon in the box for slashing, the Phantom Special Teams Unit would not only defend a Dess Boys' Powerplay, but net a Shorthanded goal in the process. Sean Wert would net his first strike of the championship game for the Phantoms with just 24 seconds remaining in the second period (assisted by Nate Skoboda) to lift the Yellow Shirts into a 6-4 lead entering the third period. The Dess Boys would answer quickly in the third, as they would send one blazing short-side past the Phantom netminder just ten second into the third period to trim the Phantom lead to a single goal at 6-5. With 6:51 remaining in regulation, the Phantom's Wes Harmon would be ticketed on a five-minute major high-sticking infraction, presenting and allowing the Dess Boys a full uninterrupted five-minute powerplay. It would take just 53 seconds for the Dess Boys to achieve the equalizer. With the game tied 6-6 and four minutes still remaining in the Dess Boys Power-Play, the Phantoms would have their hands full.  That task would become even harder, as with just over a minute remaining in the Harmon's major penalty, the Phantoms Andrew Erickson would be ticketed on a tripping infraction. For just over a minute, the Dess Boys would have a 5-on-3 advantage over the Phantoms in a tied championship game third period. If there was a moment that would define the Phantoms for this season, this was it. The three on-ice members of the Phantoms and their netminder would be tested to the max. Despite the Phantoms killing off the major penalty to Harmon and returning a single skater to the ice, a minute would still remain on the Phantom penalty to Erickson and the Dess Boy powerplay. One of the Phantom netminder's favorite quotes is the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. This extended powerplay for Dess Boys had the Phantoms in all sorts of challenges and discomfort. The entire Phantom squad would rise to the challenge and with exactly 1:11 remaining in regulation would return to full strength.  Eight seconds later, the Dess Boys would be ticketed on tripping call. Despite the Phantom extra-man-band not registering a goal on the 5-on-4 advantage, with just nine seconds remaining another Dess Boys penalty would be sentenced. The Phantoms would not convert a powerplay goal in the first nine seconds of the 5-on-3 advantage and would be forced to try again in overtime for the Championship. During the intermission, the Phantoms would call on all of the team's snipers in an all out quest to net the goal that would complete the miracle. From the faceoff, Sean Wert would drop back to the Phantom's Kyle Clark who would push forward into the Dess Boys zone and back over to Sean Wert deep inside the corner to the right of the Dess Boy goal. Sean Wert with the drive and power of an ax, would power his way through several Dess Boys D-Man and forwards and dish the puck to Matt Myers staged in front of the Dess Boys goal. Myers, without anyone within a four foot stride besides the goaltender, would quickly send an on-ice shot dead-center across the goal-line for the Game Winning Goal and the Championship for the Phantoms. Almost instantly, the Phantom bench would erupt, the Phantom goaltender began the charge towards center and the Phantom line deep inside the Dess Boys zone began the celebration of the Phantoms overtime game winning goal to be crowned Summer 2012 Ice Hockey Championships during the Sunday League at Walker Ice & Fitness. As mentioned, the championship marked the first-ever Ice Championship for the Phantoms and seventh championship overall for the now 10-Year franchise known as the West Michigan Phantoms.