A wintry blast of Mother Nature greeted the West Michigan Phantoms on Sunday as the team kicked off the Winter 2008 season at the Plex in Cedar Springs. The Phantoms would open the 10-game regular season stand against their bronze-league foes, the Junkyard Dawgs. Dating back to the two most recent seasons, both the Phantoms and Dawgs have combined to create some of the most exciting and close contests against each other in the bronze league. Entering the clash on opening night, the Junkyard Dawgs led the lifetime series against the Phantoms at 2-1. However, that lifetime lead would be all tied up after the Phantoms would strike with a pair of goals in the final minutes of the third period to come away with a 4-2 verdict and capture the victory during the opening night festivities on the now snow covered cornfield. The Junkyard Dawgs and Phantoms would begin the contest the same way as these two teams have played against each other in the past, with a very skilled and very sharp performances. It would be the Dawgs who would bark early, as the Junkyard Kids would notch the games first goal with 6:52 remaining in the opening period, as a blue shirt forward would unleash a bomb from the top of the left-circle inside the Phantom zone that completely sailed past the glove of the Phantom netminder. However, just over 3 minutes later the yellow shirts would answer as the Total Rock 101.7 disk jockey Justin Calkins would capitalize on a Tim Vanoverloop/Chad Manning set-up to tie the contest at 1-1. Despite a late Phantom powerplay, both teams would end the period the same way they started it; all tied up. The Phantoms managed to out shoot the Dawgs 8-4 in the opening stanza. In the second period, the Dawgs would appear to take charge right from the opening face-off. Despite two close Dawg chances within the opening 30 seconds, Phantom netminder Kevin Wootton would achieve a perfect and powerful poke check from the top of his crease to a wide open Justin Calkins near the slot between the Phantom circles. Justin would charge like a speeding bullet into the Dawg zone and despite having the obstruction of a Dawg defenseman right on him, the Muskegon product would tally his second of the night just 51 seconds into the second period, giving the Phantoms a 2-1 lead. The Dawgs, who never seem to back down, appeared to become even more determined. They would continue the pressure and with 8: 54 remaining in the period that pressure would pay off. The Dawgs would shoot the puck on the Phantom goal. With traffic in front, the biscuit would deflect off a Phantom stick, followed by another deflection off a Phantom skate and trickle into the net, tying the contest at 2-2. Following the opening 32 minutes of play the teams would settle for yet another tie to close out a period. The Junkyard Dawgs would out shoot the Phantoms 8-6. In the third period, the Dawgs would open with even more energy than they started the second with. The Junkyard Dawgs, who have managed to achieve the bronze championship game for the past two seasons, came thick and heavy. The back checking abilities by the Phantoms, combined with an excellent defensive core would be mixed with a very speedy and very well positioned Dawg team. This mixture would assure that this match-up would go down to the wire. With about eight minutes remaining in the period, that Phantom defensive code that was completely outstanding up to this point would not collapse, but entered a period that could best be described as lighting a match inside an ammo shed. It appeared that the Dawgs had that match. However, Phantom netminder Kevin Wootton was able to commit highway robbery and stun the entire Cedar Rock audience with not one but two unbelievable glove saves, combined with several important saves in roughly a four minute stretch to keep the Phantoms in it. Those saves would help change the momentum and give the rest of his Phantom teammates some life. With 3:41 remaining in the game, Nate Tyler would direct the puck over to Matt Mead. Mead would set-up Chuck McCloud who would unleash a bazooka blast that radiated the top shelf of Dave Sny in the Junkyard goal, giving the Phantoms a huge 3-2 lead. The Phantoms would fend off more pressure and secure the victory with an empty net goal 49 seconds remaining in the contest (goal by Jason Schemmel) to take claim to a 4-2 victory. In the third period alone, the Junkyard Dawgs out shot the Phantoms 12-6. On the game, the Dawgs out shot the yellow shirts by a 24-20 margin. On the Nautys penalty minute board, the Phantoms were ticketed with a single minor for two minutes, while the Dawgs were sentenced for two minors for four minutes. The Phantoms played without the services of defenseman Brett Smith and forward Darren Skuse. Nate Tyler, a 6-year veteran of Phantom hockey, made his debut with the bronze Phantoms tonight. The Phantoms will return to action next Sunday at the Plex in Cedar Springs. Phantom HockeyWe Are STILL the Phantoms!
