One season ago the Phantoms closed out the Bronze season with a disappointing 3-1 loss to the Sharkies. This season, the Phantoms ended their 14-game tour of duty in the most thrilling way any team could, a come-from-behind shoot-out victory. As the Men of Phantom Nation prepared for the final salute of the season, it would have appeared that the team was the underdogs. With four players scratched and only six skaters dressed, the Phantoms would have their work cut out for them. In the opening period, the Puck-Ups would crack the score page first as they would gain a 1-0 lead a mere four minutes into the contest. As if the Phantoms were not already behind the eight ball, the Puck-Ups would tally another strike 40 seconds later to jump into a very quick 2-0 lead. It would take Phantoms nearly half of the opening period to get things going and to get their first goal of the night. With 6:30 remaining in the period, Tim Czycyk would trim the Puck-Up lead to one goal (assisted by Justin Calkins) as the Rivertown's Blue Vortex star would begin the Phantom's charge late in the period. Tim Czycyk would again answer the call 1:40 later, as the two-season Bronze star would tally his second of the night to tie the contest at 2 goals apiece. In the second period, the Phantoms would capture their first lead of the night at 3-2, as longtime Phantom and Viper Justin Calkins would net his second point of the night 6:10 into the point. Despite 14 combined shots directed towards the Crease Police in the second period, the period would end with the Phantoms on top 3-2. In the third period, the Puck-Ups would provide energy to create a comeback of their own. The Puck-Up blitz would see two goals scored in the span of 2:11 to go from trailing 2-3 to leading 4-3. With the clock becoming a factor against the Phantoms, the team would lift the netminder for the extra attacker. However, before netminder Wootton could climb into the bench, Tim Czycyk would strike with his third of the night with 1:04 remaining in the contest to not only complete the hat-trick, but deadlock the score at 3-3. That score would hold in tact until the buzzer ending the third period of hockey. Unlike regular season games, overtime times that are tied following three periods will go to a five minute overtime period before heading to a shoot-out. In the overtime period, both goaltenders would stand their ground as both teams would not be able to penetrate the net detective force fields. Following the fourth period, the game would advance to the shoot-out. The Puck-Ups would shoot first and the Phantom netminder who has not lost in 13 straight shoot-out matches would deny the breakaway bandits on their first three opportunities. During the Phantom's third shot, Jason Schemmel would break the shoot-out shut-out spectacular, as the Phantom and Blue Vortex star would give the Phantoms a 1-0 lead in the four-round breakaway blitz. With one last attempt for the Puck-Ups to net a shoot-out goal, Phantom netminder Kevin Wootton would get his left pad in position to make the save and secure a 1-0 shoot-out win and a 5-4 Phantom victory in the season finale. The victory by Wootton raises his personal shoot-out unbeaten streak to 14 games. On the game, the Phantoms out-shot the Puck-Ups by a near 2-1 margin of 31-19. The Phantoms were ticketed with one minor for two minutes on the Nauty's Penalty Minute Clock, while the Puck-Ups were sent packing on three minors for six minutes. As mentioned, the Phantoms were without the services of four players, including Darren Skuse, Brett Smith, Chuck McCloud and Keith Mooreman. The victory completes the 2008 Summer season for the Phantoms, who finished the 14-game schedule with a 9-5 record. The team will return to action next season. The Winter 2008 season is expected to begin in late November and all players are reminded to have their league fees on opening night. Players paying in full during the first game will be charged $100, where as players playing after opening night will be forced to by $135. More details and information concerning the Winter 2008 season can be found by clicking on the Winter 2008 banner located on this page. Phantom Hockey...We Are The Phantoms.
