With the Phantoms, Puck-Ups and Donkey Punch all entering Sunday afternoon
with perfect 2-0 post-season records, Sunday was shaping up to be an exciting day in the cornfield in Cedar Springs. Adding to the excitement was the fact that each of those three bronze teams would compete in a double-header against the other. With the Hawks and Junkyard Dawgs out of the championship battle, Sundays action in Cedar would create the billing for the following weeks championship game. For the Phantoms, they would begin the afternoon against the Puck-Ups, followed by the culmination of their doubleheader with the Donkey Punch. In two previous encounters this season, the Phantoms were a perfect 2-0 against the Puck-Ups, however, were winless at 0-1-0-1 in two games against the Donkey Punch.
For the Men of the Phantom Hockey, the play-off buzz appeared to create a sense of nervousness and jitteriness for the group that was trying to reach the championship game for the first time in three seasons. Just 5:40 into the first game, the Puck-Ups would gain control inside the Phantom zone and with a wide-open forward stationed twelve feet in front of the Phantom goal mouth, the Puck-Ups would fire a blast that would put them in front at 1-0. That game opening strike would occur on the power play, as it would take just 26 seconds for the Puck-Ups power play unit to capitalize on the Phantoms #26 Darren Skuse holding infraction. The Phantoms would begin to shake their nervousness in the second period and begin to take charge. With the Phantoms enjoying an extra-man-band of their own, the power play unit would cash-in 1:58 into the advantage to get on the board. Chad Manning and Brad Zehr would set-up Matt Mead with 5:28 remaining in the middle stanza to bring both clubs into a 1-1 tie. The Phantoms would manage to net another tally in the final seconds of the second period, as Tim Czycyk would net an unassisted strike with 5 seconds remaining to put the yellow and black on top 2-1 after the first two periods. The Phantoms would continue their red-hot play into the third, and that energy and focus would pay off 5:46 into the third as Tim Czcyk (assisted by Jason Schemmel) would increase the Phantom lead to 3-1. The Puck-Ups would continue to make this a game until the end, as the white-shirts would climb to within one goal with just 1:26 remaining. With the Phantoms on top 3-2, Trent Kik would decide to make things interesting, as the Silver member of the Meat-Lovers-Line would be inflected with a holding infraction. With the goaltender pulled, the Puck-Ups would mount some serious 5-3 pressure inside the Phantom zone. The Phantoms Tim Vanoverloop thought he would complete the night with a rink-long shot towards the open goal, however, the big red post would deny the Phantom defensemen on this opportunity. With less than 20 seconds remaining, Phantom netminder Kevin Wootton would make a spell-binding post-to-post game-saving save and the Phantom defense would starve off the Puck-Ups 5-on-3 advantage and take claim to what would become the Phantoms ticket to the championship game. The Phantoms outshot the Puck-Ups 24-21 in the contest. Both teams were ticketed with three minors for six minutes.
During the tail-end of the double-header, the Phantoms would square-off against the Donkey Punch. The Phantoms would use the same energy they displayed in the contest two hours earlier, to attempt to capture their first win against the Donkeys this season. That energy was as strong as the Phantoms have displayed this season. Jason Schemmel would get the Phantom Party started early, as the upcoming Silver member would net his first of the night (assisted by Tim Czycyk) just 1:29 into the contest. The Phantoms Tim Vanoverloop would stun the Donkeys minutes later, as the Rivertowns Stick Head product would receive a set-up from Justin Calkins to expand the Phantom lead to 2-0. Despite the Donkeys out shooting the Yellow and Black 9-6 in the opening period, the Phantom defense would be equal to the task. In the second period, the Donkeys would strike just 19 seconds in to trim the Phantom lead to 2-1. Roughly five minutes later, the Phantoms Brad Zehr would restore the two-goal-grip, as Justin Calkins would tally his second assist of the night and allow Brad and the Phantoms to take a 3-1 lead. The back and forth second period would continue 3:30 later, as the Donkeys would again trim the Phantom lead to 3-2. The Phantoms Silver connection of Trent Kik and Brad Zehr would answer right back 1:04 later, as Trent Kik would net his first of the night, restoring the two-goal cushion at 4-2. The Phantoms would then manage to deflate the Donkeys sail, as the Yellow and Black would strike with two goals in the final two minutes to take claim to 6-2 lead after two periods. (Trent Kik and Tim Czycyk would receive those goals, while Jason Schemmel would get credited with the lone assist). In the third period, the Donkeys would trim their deficit to three goals as the Red Shirts would strike with a goal 3:47 in, however, the Phantoms Keith Mooreman would answer right back (assisted by Darren Skuse) to mount the Phantoms into a 7-3 lead. The Donkey Punch would continue to be a formidable opponent, as the team which is made up of several former Phantoms, would answer back with 7:43 remaining in the regulation with their fourth goal of the night to trim the Phantom lead to 7-4. Despite some excellent play on both ends of the rink, the balance of the game would be scoreless. The Phantoms would take their first victory of the season against the Donkey Punch by the final of 7-4. On the game, the Donkey Punch out shot the Phantoms 30-27. Both teams would be ticketed on two minors for four minutes each. Later that evening, the Donkey Punch would jump out to a 5-1 lead over the Puck-Ups and hang-on to win 6-5 to advance to the bronze league championship game next Sunday against the Phantoms. Game time from Cedar Springs is set for 5:00pm. Plenty of great seats are available for this championship tilt. The team is encouraging members of the Silver team to come on down and cheer on their brothers for the championship.
