The West Michigan Phantoms made history on May 10^th and continued to show everyone that the legendary Phantoms are still here.  After nearly four months of behind the scenes planning and securing an ice hockey team at Walker Ice & Fitness for the Spring 2011 season, the Phantoms skated in an actual game for the first time in the now nearly nine year history of Phantom Hockey and came away with a 7-3 victory to usher in a new era in the teams long history.  With many players nervous and some returning to the ice for the first time in years, the emotions were thick and despite a scoreless contest mid-way into the opening period, the Phantoms were able to breathe some much needed calmness about seven minutes into the opening as Matt Myers would break the scoreless duel and net the first Phantom Ice hockey goal in franchise history.  Matt Myers, a former inline member with the Phantoms at Rivertown Sports and Cedar Rock Sports Plex, would receive a set-up assist from former Good Ole Boy and Grandville High School Hockeys Nate Skoboda, as the two Phantoms would glide into the Deboers zone on a 2-on-1 to record the historic strike.  Throughout the balance of the opening period, the Phantoms would keep the pressure on and play some of the greatest defense ever displayed by a Phantom team to complete the opening period with a 2-0 lead.  As luck would have it, longtime Phantom Matt Zehr would congratulate Phantom netminder Kevin Wootton on a successful period and riffle off the phrase Nice Shut-Out Woot!  Needless to say, just 16 seconds into the second period a shot from the slot would deflect of Nate Skobodas stick in front of the Phantom net and beat Wootton in the Phantom cage blocker side to trim the Phantom lead to 2-1.  The Phantoms would dig in and battle and net two additional goals in the middle frame to close out the second period with a 4-1 lead.  In the third period, the only goals that Deboer would manage to score would be a fluke play in front of the Phantom crease and a breakaway goal, while the Phantoms would stage three additionals to complete the contest with a 7-3 victory against Deboer.  The Phantoms would receive two goals from Matt Myers and Sear Wert during the contest, while Brad Zehr, Nate Skoboda and Jordon Tompkins would complete the game with singletons.  The first game and victory were two huge steps forward for the Phantoms who are excited about the newest venture the team is involved in.  The Phantoms will return to Walker Ice & Fitness on Tuesday, May 17^th to battle Brian Steil and Demon Hockey at 7:00pm.