Despite the lack of a birthday cake, no helium-filled balloons or even the singing of 'Happy Birthday To Us' in the locker room, the West Michigan Phantoms kicked off the team's 26th season and celebrated the team's official seventh birthday on a positive note by defeating the Roman Empire by the final of 4-1.  It was 2,555 days ago when the Phantom's began their now 26 season history, a record that still stands today as the longest consecutively running in-line franchise in the West Michigan area.  In the 366th played Phantom game, it was the Roman Empire who began the party early in the first period.  With a two-on-two charge into the Phantom zone, an Empire shot from roughly twenty-feet out would beat Wootton on the stick-side to advance the Empire to an early 1-0 lead.  The Phantoms would equalize the contest late in the opening period, as Tim Czycyk would net his first of the season on the powerplay (assisted by Brian Doctor and Chuck McCloud) to draw the score even at 1-1.  That game tying mark would be recorded with just 1:02 remaining in the opening period.  The assist by longtime Phantom defensemen Brian Doctor would mark his first Phantom point since he tallied a second period goal against the Missiles back on March 30, 2008.  Following that March 30, 2008 game, Doctor went into sub-retirement only to return to hockey 532 days later.  In the second period, the Men of Phantom Nation would jump into their first lead of the night just 1:44 in.  Chad Manning and Tim Vanoverloop would set up Justin Calkins on the side of the Roman Empire cage and the recently crowned Good Ole Boy Champion (Rivertown Sports) would radiate the puck off the pipe and into the net to climb the Phantoms into a 2-1 lead. The Birthday Boys would jump into a 3-1 lead 11:12 later, as Tim Czycyk would tally his second goal of the night (assisted by Tim Vanoverloop).  Following the second period and a 16-14 shot advantage, the Phantoms entered the third period with a 3-1 lead.

 Despite pressure in the third period by the Roman Empire, the Phantom defense and backstop would curtail any hopes of the Romans fighting their way back into the game.  With time running out, Justin Calkins would put the frosting on the Phantoms seventh birthday, as the Muskegonite would seal the win with an empty net goal with 12 seconds remaining.  As if the hockey gods were smiling and watching from above, Darren Skuse who wears #26 for the Phantoms would get credit for the only assist on the final Phantom goal.  The assist by #26 would complete a perfect way for the Phantoms to begin season #26.  On the game, the Phantoms were outshot by the Roman Empire 24-23.  On the 96KBPS.com Internet Radio's Crime Watch, the Phantoms were ticketed with two minors for four minutes, while the Roman Empire were inflicted with five minors for ten minutes.  The victory erases a defeat last season in the season opener which was also played against the Roman Empire.  The West Michigan Phantoms will return to the Cornfield in Cedar on Sunday, September 20th.  Plenty of Great-Choice Seats are Still Available for Phantom Hockey this Season.