It was 162 days since the Phantom-Silver team last skated under the lights of the Cedar Rock Sports in Cedar Springs.  During that championship tilt against Howies in early November 2008, the Yellow and Black fell by the final of 8-5.  For everyone on this seasons team, that was the last time they skated in the Silver division and for most was the last time they have skated in a highly competitive league either at either Cedar Rock or Rivertown Sports.   As the Phantoms returned to the Cedar Rock to kick off the teams 25th anniversary season, some players were a little nervous as they would be forced to shed the rust that had developed from their lack of play over the past several months.  With a full bench and several new faces to the Silver team, the Phantoms would tread water early, before unleashing an all out deluge against ADHD (formally the Red Devils) in the third period. 

Phantom newcomer Norm Farr would begin the festivities early for the Phantoms, as the Rivertown product would notch an unassisted tally 4:13 into the contest.  Just shy of four minutes later, ADHD would respond on a breakdown in the Phantoms defensive end and scoreboard would be knotted at 1-1.  Two minutes later, Norm Farr of the Phantoms would do it again and bring the Yellow and Black back into the lead with an assist from Tim Czycyk.  Czycyk is yet another newcomer to the Silver team, having played the last three seasons with the Phantoms in the Bronze league.  Following the opening period, the Phantoms held a 2-1 lead and edged ADHD 8-6 in shots on goal during the opening 16 minutes of play.  In the second period, both squads would compete in a relatively quiet offensive period.  With just 2:35 remaining in the second period, Tim Czycyk would be set-up from Casey Rosenberg and the BlueVortex player would notch is first-ever goal as a member of the Phantom Silver team.  With time running out, longtime member Scott Vandonkelaar would unleash a bazooka blast that would rocket into the back of the ADHD goal with just eight seconds remaining in the middle stanza to put the Phantoms on top 4-1 after two periods.  Having played 32 minutes of hockey, the members of the Phantoms quickly gelled together and that chemistry would erupt in the third period, as the Phantoms would put on a scoring clinic in the final period; scoring 7 goals.  Just 42 seconds into, Casey Rosenberg would set up the Kid, Brad Brooks for his first ever lamp lighter with the Phantoms.  Less than 45 seconds later, Jason Schemmel would notch his first goal as a Silver member, with help from Casey Rosenberg and Chris Benedict.  The Phantom assault would continue less than two minutes later, as Tim Czycyk would notch his second of the contest (assisted by Scott Vandonkelaar) to lift the Phantoms into a 7-1 lead.  With 7:03 remaining in the third, Jason Schemmel would follow in the footsteps of Tim Czycyk to become the third player of the night to capture a pair of goals (Brad Brooks and Chris Benedict with the assist).  Two minutes later, Norm Farr would strike on an unassisted tally to capture the first hat trick of the season for the Phantoms and give the Phantoms a 9-1 lead.  Less than a minute later, the high-powered offense of the Yellow and Black would garnish another tally, as Scott Vandonkelaar would notch his second of the night (assisted by Norm Farr) to give the Phantoms their first double-digit score since October 26, 2008, when the team defeated the Red Devils 10-0.  Not to be silenced on the scoresheet, longtime Phantom member Gordie Anderson would make his fan-club proud late in the game, as the Norton Shores and fellow Mona Shores product would seal the Phantom scoring at 11 with just 2:50 remaining, as Gordie would be setup by Casey Rosenberg and Chris Benedict.  While it would appear that the Phantom offense was in high gear on opening, the defensive core of the Phantoms also played terrific, as the blue liners would surrender only 18 shots against.  The Phantoms take game one of this Spring 2009 season and did it in resounding fashion.  On the game, the Phantoms outshot ADHD 33-18.  On the Nautys penalty minute board, the Phantoms would be ticketed with three minors for six minutes, while ADHD was called on a single infraction for two minutes.  The Phantoms displayed a great effort in the season opener and will return to action next Sunday at Cedar Rock to face off against another Silver opponent.