The West Michigan Phantoms, proud member of the West Michigan hockey scene for over six years, are announcing that the Silver team will take its first season off after completing the team's 23rd consecutive season just a few weeks ago. This break will become the first break in the team's 74 month existence, of which have seen the Phantoms grace the rinks of Rivertown Sports and Lazerskate in several different leagues. After discussions with many of the core Phantom members, it was agreed that the team will take a single season break, however, will return to active status in the spring of 2009. While the decision to hit 'pause' on the team's long and very successful history was hard, everyone on the Silver team believed that this upcoming Winter 2008 season was the right time to strike the 'pause' button. With Chris Benedict shifting to ice hockey for a season, Matt Zehr and Brad Zehr shifting to play on a Wednesday team at Rivertown Sports, Trent Kik becoming a father, Kevin Wootton returning to the railroad conductor ranks and many others looking for break from the Sunday tradition, the time was right. As the holiday season begins to complicate schedules and tighten the wallets, as well as mother nature beginning to crank up the wintry mix, we as a team all feel this break will allow us to rest. After all, 74 months of non-stop hockey is a lot. After the holidays are over, the team will begin on focusing on a return to hockey. The team will look at everything at a whole at that point and will return to either Cedar Rock/Lazerskate or Rivertown Sports. Players on the team will still receive emails of upcoming events (such as Carload Special Night, Wings/Hawks bus trips, Griffin and Lumberjack promotions and more). The team has enjoyed the past several seasons at Cedar Rock/Lazerskate and our decision to take a break is no reflection of anything more than this group looking to take a break after six years of hockey. After all, four months is a small break after 74 months of hockey. This decision to take a break effects only the Silver team. This Phantom website will still remain online and will post further developments concerning the return of Phantom Hockey in the Spring of 2009.
