The scoreboard is the final verdict when it comes down to deciding a winner in sports. However on Sunday, the West Michigan Phantoms deserved a far destiny than fate had in store.  Both the Phantoms and Hawks collided to register a very exciting and back and forth game in which a total of 74 shots would nearly be divided evenly between both netminders. Yet, the Phantoms who scored only a single goal in their previous game contined to experience an offensive short circuit as despite having plenty of excellent scoring chances were unable to capitalize on goals that should have been easily attained. The Hawks would capture the opening goal just past the 6 minute mark of the opening period and then with 1:35 left in the opening stanza would manage to tally another to climb into a 2-0 lead after the opening 16 minutes. In the second period, the Hawks would continue their offensive spark as the defending Bronze champions would climb into a 3-0 lead just seconds after a Phantom Keith Mooreman penalty expired. The Phantoms would manage to begin their comeback with 3:40 remaining in the period as Tim Czycyk set up Keith Mooreman for his first goal of the season and trimming the Hawk lead to 3-1 after two periods. In the third period, the Hawks would regain their 3 goal grip 40 seconds into the frame. The Phantoms would wait until the final minutes of the period to crack the scoresheet and with 4:34 remaining in the period, Justin Calkins netted his third of the season to bring the yellow shirts back to within two. Less than a minute later, Keith Mooreman would lite the lamp with his second of the night to continue the Phantom's quest for the equalizer and the Mooreman strike trimmed the Hawk lead to 4-3. However, the Phantom's quest would be put to death with 1:56 remaining in the period as the Phantom netminder would make a grave mistake in front of the net and the Hawks would capitalize. Despite pulling the netminder for an extra attacker and a Hawk penalty, the Phantom 5-man-crew would not be able to penetrate the Hawk net as the Hawks would hold on to a 5-3 victory over the Phantoms. On the game, the Hawks out shot the Phantoms 38-36. On the Nauty's Penalty Minute Board, the Phantoms were ticketed with a single minor for two minutes, while the Hawks were ticketed with four minors for eight minutes. The Phantoms played without the services of Matt Mead, Darren Skuse and Brett Smith. The Phantoms will return to action on January 4th.