The West Michigan Phantoms were able to open the team's 30th season on a positive note Sunday, as the Yellow Shirts cruised to a 6-3 victory against the Puck-Ups. The victory marks the 12th consecutive victory against the Puck-ups spanning the course of now four seasons of play. Despite the Puck-Ups opening the scoring just 1:45 into the period, the Phantoms would answer back quickly as Darren Skuse would capture the first goal of the season just 48 seasons following the Puck-Up goal to lock both teams into 1-1 duel.Chris Benedict would tally his first of the season for the Phantoms with 6:05 left in the opening period, as the former Mona Shores Sailor would receive set-up feeds from John Dykehouse and Tim Vanoverloop to put the Phantoms into their first lead of the night at 2-1. Less than 2:30 later, the Phantoms would increase their lead to a pair as Keith Moorman who was called up for the absent Gordie Anderson would stage his first of three on the light (unassisted) to give the Phantoms a 3-1 lead after 16 minutes of play. In the second period, the Phantom's Chris Benedict would be ticketed on a penalty shot for taking down a Puck-Up forward on a near-breakaway inside the Phantom zone. Having not been involved in a shoot-out since an October 31st contest against the Puck-Ups, Phantom netminder Kevin Wootton would not display his shoot-out greatness as expected, as the Puck-Up forward would make good on an early commit from the Phantom goaltender and narrow the game to a 3-2 Phantom lead. However, the men of the 'Black & Yellow' would quickly regain their two goal grip as Tim Vanoverloop would unleash a high-flying blast from the right-wing (assisted by Brain Doctor) to restore the two-goal grip at 4-2. Keith Moorman would cap his second of the night just 1:17 following the Vanoverloop goal (assisted by Jason Schemmel) to mount the Phantoms into a 5-2 lead after two periods of play. In the third, the Puck-Ups would look to stage a rally mid-way into the period, as despite the Phantom netminder being plowed over by a rushing Puck-Up forward, the cracker-jack-box band of officials would rule that the puck crossed the goal line prior to the initial hit and the goal would ultimately bring the Puck-Ups to within two goals trailing the Phantoms 5-3. Keith Moorman would complete his three-goal hat-trick with 5:00 remaining in the final frame, as the Sunday Sub and Phantom South forward would receive set-ups from Tim Vanoverloop and Chris Benedict. On the game, the Phantoms outshot the Puck-Ups 28-23. The Phantoms would be ticketed on a single minor to Brian Doctor for delay of game, while the Puck-Ups were tarnished on two minors for four minutes. The victory draws the Phantoms to a 1-0 record to begin the 30th season of Phantom Hockey. The team will return to action on Sunday, February 20th to host a double-header at the Plex.