When it comes to hockey, either you
like the shoot-out or you dislike it. On Sunday, the streak that had
to be the longest ever in West Michigan and very well could have been
the longest streak in professional hockey finally came to an end.
Entering Sunday's Phantom clash with the Donkey Punch at the Cedar
Rock Sports Plex in Cedar Springs, Phantom netminder Kevin Wootton
was unbeaten in 15 straight shoot-outs. After surrendering the lone
goal in the shoot-out in which in the Phantoms lost, that streak is
over. The overtime thrilling streak began and was contained to the
Cedar Rock Sports Plex, as the other rink in the area (Rivertown
Sports) does not feature the sudden death contest. While the exact
date that the streak began is not unknown, it is something that has
been followed on the West Michigan Phantom website in the game recaps
for nearly two years. During that span, Kevin Wootton was gallant in
several very exciting match-ups include games against Howie's and
several against the Puck-Ups. It is noteworthy to mention that not
everyone of those 15 straight unbeaten games occurred in a Phantom
sweater. It was fitting that the game in which the streak ended was
played against a team that featured several former Phantoms that were
active when the streak began. It was very exciting and rewarding
to have such a rare streak in sports, said Phantom goaltender
Kevin Wootton. I have enjoyed the shoot-outs since I was a kid at
the bleacher-filled Walker Arena in Muskegon watching the original
Muskegon Lumberjacks, he added. Wootton surrendered the lone
set-back and ultimately streak-ending goal during the second round of
the shoot-out. The energy of watching the shoot-out is high, the
energy level of playing in a shoot-out is unmeasureable, Wootton
said. While he is proud of the success he has enjoyed in the
shoot-out, he did mention that this record would not be possible
without the hardwork of his teammates during the extra frame.
Playing a majority of my games with the Phantoms has helped me
achieve this mark, as the team has and currently features great
shooters and great hockey players, Wootton said. He closed by
saying, Even though the streak is over, I will continue to look
forward to the next shoot-out and I am ready to start my next streak
for 16 straight!