The West Michigan Phantoms, proud member of the areas in-line hockey community since 2002, are announcing a change in franchise operations for the Winter 2009 season, which will begin in late August.  Citing numerous player schedule conflicts, a lack of asolid Sunday night Silver league and the loss of several long-time core team members, the Phantoms will cease operations of its Silver team during the upcoming season.  The West Michigan Phantoms will continue to operate in the Bronze division at Cedar Rock Sports Plex in Cedar Springs.  Since the end of June, Phantom personal have been in contact with every member of the Silver team and Bronze team working out an operating plan for the upcoming Winter 2009 season.  With so many scheduling conflicts on the Silver team, it was agreed that it is in the best interest of the franchise to cease Silver league operations.   The team did consider and received feedback from every member of the current Silver team, as well as players who have the ability to play on the Silver team, about shifting the highest-skilled Phantom team to Rivertown Sports in Grandville.  However, the scheduling issues that hampered the Sunday league at Cedar Rock Sports Plex became even more filled with issues on a weekday league at Rivertown.  Since 2002, the Phantoms have been a very close group of friends who have come together to play hockey.  With most of the team sharing a bond outside of the hockey rink, the team felt that without the solid support of those who have been apart of Phantom Hockey for so long, it would not seem right to keep a team going without so many of the originals.  With numerous players now enjoying the benefits of marriage, children, school and work, the time to play hockey is limited.  Unlike seven years ago when much of the group was just out of high school, todays Phantoms have much larger and more important things on their plates.  The economic conditions across the state are also playing a small role in the decision to cutback the franchise to just a single team.  This decision to cease Silver operations does not mean the end to Phantom Hockey.  It will allow the team to re-focus and open a new chapter in the teams long history.  Once this Spring 2009 season ends, 25 seasons will have been played under the Phantom banner.  The team is looking forward to what season 26 will have in store.  While the Winter 2009 roster is almost complete, an official release of who will make up the 26th
season of Phantom Hockey will be made public in the coming weeks.