With a slightly retooled roster, the West Michigan Phantoms looked great in a pair of games to open the 27th season of Phantom hockey on Sunday. The yellow and black opened the night against a very strong Howies team, marking the first time in the Phantom's 27 season history that the team's bronze club took on the former Calvin Collage ice hockey team. While the Phantoms former Silver division team has a long history against Howies, Sunday's game was a great challenge for the Phantom bronze team and the team played gallantly despite a 6-4 defeat.  In the night cap for the Phantoms, the team shook off a disappointing 6-5 overtime defeat in last season's championship game and captured revenge against the Puck-Ups, blasting their ego by the final of 7-3. The Phantoms, with the newest additions of Jason Schemmel and Chris Wietfeldt, opened the season on an extremely positive note and gained 2 out of a possible 4 points. With Howies expected to be the front runners of the season, a 6-4 defeat against a highly skilled team such as Howies should stand to be a great reflection how just how skilled this Phantom team is. As a comparison, since the Phantoms shifted to Cedar Rock during the Winter 2006 season, the Phantom's Silver club has squared off against Howies 25 times. During those 25 games, the Phantoms posted an overall record against Howies of 7-18 and during those games, only 7 games featured Howies scoring 6 goals or fewer. The Phantom bronze team should be a very pleased with their effort against Howies and players should look as this game as a great test for the Phantoms.

In the opener against Howies, the Phantoms would charge into a early and quick 2-0 lead, as Chad Manning and Tim Czycyk (both unassisted) would net goals just 14 seconds apart to put the yellow and black on top 2-0. Late in the opening period, Howies would strike to narrow the contest to a 2-1 Phantom lead after the opening period. In the second period, Howies would tie the contest just past the half-way mark, as an ill-fated Phantom line change would allow Howies a breakaway goal to even the duel at 2-2. Roughly 1:11 after the equalizer, Howies would climb into their first lead of the night, as Howies would completely disown the Phantom defense and skate in on a 3-on-0 breakaway to net their third tally of the night. Tim Czycyk would bring the Phantoms back into a tie with 4:03 remaining in the second period, as the former Phantom silver product would register his second of the night (unassisted) to bring both teams into the second intermission tied 3-3. In the third period, Howies would regain control just 4:06 into the third, as the fast skating Calvin Kids would set-up shop in the Phantom zone and blast a puck past Phantom netminder Kevin Wootton to restore the lead at 4-3. Not to be outdone, the Phantoms would respond again to stage their second comeback of the night as Tim Czycyk (unassisted) would complete the hat-trick and bring the Phantoms back into a 4-4 tie. Howies would answer back 2:37 later, as a Howie forward would win a puck battle in the Phantom left corner and saucer a sweet-lead centering pass to a wide open forward stationed in the slot and with a flick of the wrist Howies would restore a slim 5-4 lead. Despite the Phantom's efforts of using a 30 second timeout in an effort to attain the equalizer, Howies would stage a goal with 1:09 remaining in the contest to seal the victory and take claim to a 6-4 decision against their Jr. Phantom foes. On the game, the Phantoms were out shot by Howies 21-20. The lone penalty was inflicted to Howies in the second period, by the Phantoms failed to capitalize on their 96KBPS.com Internet Radio's Power Play.

During the tail end of the opening night double header, the Phantoms took on the Puck-Ups in a rematch of last season's championship game. For many on the yellow and black, this game was personal and the Phantoms were not looking to keep the score close. Following last season, harsh words were sent to every member of the Phantoms in regards to the uneven scoring the Phantoms received from the team. In the second half of the double header, those words must have sunk in to many, as five different goal scorers would cash in and light the lamp against the Puck-Ups. The Phantoms would receive the jump from the unlikeliest of Phantom forwards. Darren Skuse would begin the Phantom scoring just 3:03 into the contest (unassisted), as the former architect of the now defunct Rivertown Sports Komet franchise would tap in a loose puck in the puck-up crease to give the Phantoms a early 1-0 lead. The Phantoms would stage another lamp lighter just 1:51 later, as Tim Czycyk would beat Puck-Up goalkeeper Dave Sny for his fourth of the season and a 2-0 Phantom lead. The Phantoms would skate into the first intermission in charge of a 2-0 lead and a 10-7 shot advantage through the first 16 minutes. In the second period, the Men of Phantom Nation would continue their revenge assault against the Puck-Ups, as Tim Czycyk would again net paydirt for the Phantoms. Czycyk would receive a pass off the tip of Chad Manning 3:58 into the middle stanza for this second of the contest to bring the Phantoms into a 3-0 lead. Late in the second period, the Phantom's Blueline Bazooka Blast Specialist Brian Doctor would lift the Phantoms into a commanding 4-0 lead with his first of the season (unassisted) to send the Phantoms into the second intermission. The Phantoms out shot the Puck-Ups 13-6 in the middle stanza. In the third period, the Puck-Ups would finally muster some scoring in an effort to come back. Just one minute into the period, the shut-out bid for the Phantom's star-studded goaltender would be dashed, as the Puck-Ups would strike from the right side of the cage with their first of the evening to narrow the Phantom lead to 4-1. However, as quickly as their sense for a comeback started, it was destroyed. Chad Manning would strike just 26 seconds later (unassisted) to give the Phantoms a five-spot with a 5-1 lead. The Puck-Ups would respond with 9:40 remaining in the game, but the Phantoms Chad Manning (assisted by Tim Czycyk) would again silence the Puck-Up just 1:18 later with his second of the game to keep the Phantoms ahead by four goals at 6-2. The Phantoms would not be done. The Phantoms would register the club's seventh of the night with just 5:16 remaining in the contest as the first line combination of newcomer Chris Wietfeldt and team captain Trent Kik would come to life. Wietfeldt, another Sparta native, would set-up Kik for this first of the season to lift his Phantoms into a 7-2 lead. The Puck-Ups would capture the final goal of the night with 2:18 remaining to seal a 7-3 decision for the Phantoms. The Phantoms blasted the Puck-Ups 34-20 in shots on goal. Both teams were ticketed on two minors for four minutes on the 96KBPS.com's Internet Radio Crime Watch. The Phantoms, with their 1-1 record, will return to the cornfield in Cedar Springs on Sunday, January 17th to take on Team Chowder. Game time is set for a rare 7:30pm. Plenty of great, choice seats are available for this and all 12 remaining Phantom games this season. Come on out and cheer on your Phantoms to Victory. 27 Seasons Long...27 Season Strong!