The West Michigan Phantoms, member of the areas hockey community since 2002, is very sad to announce that longtime team defensemen Justin Calkins will be departing the team for Colorado by the end of April.  Justin, who is currently a member of the Phantoms Cedar Rock Sports Plex team and the Rivertown team, will be heading to Colorado to continue his 12+ years of Information Technology and start a new business for the summer in Estes Park, Colorado.  While his move to Colorado is scheduled to just be temporary, if Justin is able to secure a job and expand his side-businesses, he will remain in Colorado and take up permanent residence.  Justin will spend the summer with his cousin in Estes Park followed by opening an apartment lease or purchasing a house in the event he decides to stay in the Centennial State. I will miss my family, friends and of course Phantom Hockey, said Justin after informing the team in early April that he would be departing.   Justin, who was recently named an Ambassador to Phantom Hockey, will evaluate the situation this summer in Colorado and decide from there whether to pursue a life in the elevated state or return to Michigan.  The possibility and chance to spend at least several months in Colorado will allow Justin to expand his photography possibilities with new terrain and expand his ever-growing photography portfolio. Justin, who runs his own photography business at http://justincalkins.net, is also working with a local golf course in Colorado to further improve his game which he cherishes along with hockey.   The Phantoms were taken by surprise by Justins announcement in early April and almost everyone who wears the yellow sweater is sad to see #75 depart the team.  Im going to miss being able to throw Trailer Park Boys one-liners at him and miss watching Justin do his best to impersonate Ovechkin with the puck, said Phantom Co-Captain Trent Kik.  Trent added I just got to know him as a friend and hes already leaving, but at least I have a place to crash if I ever go to Colorado.  Justins steady defensive talents and ability to provide great support to the team both on and off the rink will be missed.  It is always sad when a team loses a key asset, said Team General Manager Kevin Wootton.  He has helped us on the rink for years and received much fanfare and praise for his voice on the highly famous Pure Phantom ads and has been almost been like a brother for me in the past several years, said Wootton.  There is no way to replace a guy like Justin and down the road if he returns to West Michigan there will always be a spot open, Wootton added.  The Phantoms, who will be hitting the ice for the first time in franchise history, will be forced to play without Justin on the blueline in May.  Justin was really looking forward to the ice team and was a large driving force in the effort to bring a Phantom team to the ice, it just wont be the same, said Kevin Wootton. Justin will close out his Phantom seasons this week, as the team will be in action Wednesday evening and Saturday afternoon at Rivertown Sports in Grandville and on Sunday afternoon at the Cedar Rock Sports Plex in Cedar Springs.  The team is planning a small get-together on Saturday as a last-minute farewell party at a location that is still to be determined.  Everyone from the Phantom Sunday squad, Phantom Wednesday squad, former Good Ole Boys and other friends of Justin are invited to give Justin a send off to the Centennial State.