Powered on the strength of three goals by veteran forward Trent Kik, the West Michigan Phantoms made a giant leap forward in their goal to attain franchise championship number six on Sunday afternoon. The Phantoms displayed an excellent showing as the yellow and black skated to a 3-1 victory against the Sharkees at the Cedar Rock Sports Plex in Cedar Springs. The victory is the second straight in the post-season and the third straight overall. The victory against the Sharkees marks the third straight victory against the Sharkees in three meetings this season and the fifth straight dating back four seasons. The victory improves the Phantoms to a league-best 10-2 overall record this season. The Phantoms and Sharkees have typically had close games and on Sunday that mold again fit the past.  Both goaltenders would display great showings through the opening frame and neither club would be able to light the lamp on a combined total of 13 shots (Sharkees with 8). In the second period, the two clubs would continue their cat and mouse game and the scoreless duel would continue all the way until the 12:35 mark when the Phantoms would capitalize. With the Phantoms asserting pressure inside enemy territory on the powerplay, Chad Manning would break loose out of the Sharkees left corner and set-up Trent Kik to end the Sharkee shut-out bid and put the Phantoms on top 1-0. Despite the Sharkees climbing back to full strength, the Phantoms would mange to stun the Sharkees again 1:01 later, as Trent Kik would duek in front of the goal and slip the puck through a narrow opening between the goaltender's pad and left post to increase the Phantom lead to 2-0 after two periods of play. In that second period, the Phantoms managed to out shoot the Sharkees 9-4. In the third period, the Sharkees would begin to receive some breaks at the Phantom expense allowing them the chance to muster a comeback. Early in the third period, the Phantom's Matt Mead would be ticketed on a hooking infraction to give the Sharkees just their second powerplay of the game. Great puck-work by the Phantom penalty kill would deny a powerplay goal by the Sharkees on this attempt. However, just 45 seconds after returning to full strength, the Phantoms would again go down a man as Chad Manning would be sentenced on a tripping infraction. The Sharkees would again go on the extra-man-band and with the enemy asserting pressure inside Phantom territory, a high-rising rocket would manage to find the smallest of openings after deflecting off the right corner post and beat the Phantom netminder Kevin Wootton to trim the Phantom lead to 2-1. The Phantom urge to return and retain full-strength power would remain intact for just 4:03 following the Sharkees powerplay goal, as another Phantom penalty would be handed down. Dan Craveling, working to secure his name on the Phantom website, would be banished on an interference call in front of the Phantom goal with 7:51 remaining in the third period. The Phantom penalty kill would dig in harder and be masterful in limiting the Sharkees to just two shots on goal during the Craveling penalty. The Phantom return to full strength would again be limited, as 55 seconds after Craveling return to the rink, the Phantom's Matt Mead would be sentenced on a hooking infraction to again put the Sharkees on the powerplay. However, one goal is too many for the Phantom netminder and penalty killing unit, and this two minute disadvantage would again be killed off by the Men of Phantom Nation. In a rare occurrence, the Phantoms would be gifted with a Tim & Tom's Powerplay opportunity with 1:08 remaining in regulation, as a Sharkees forward would be guilty of a slash. The Phantom powerplay unit would go two-for-two on the night, as Trent Kik would net this third of the contest with 32 seconds remaining in the game to seal the play-off win for the Phantoms. On the game, the Sharkees out shot the Phantoms 23-22. On the 96KBPS.com Internet Radio's Crime Watch, the Sharkees would be ticketed on two minors for four minutes (both resulting in Phantom powerplay goals) and the Phantoms would be guilty of five minors for ten minutes (one penalty resulting in a Sharkees powerplay goal). Of the five minors assessed to the Phantoms during the game, four would occur in the third period. The undefeated post-season Phantoms will return to action on December 6th at 5:00pm to take on the Roman Empire during the final week of championship game eligibility.