After a very successful opening season at Walker Ice & Fitness, the West Michigan Phantoms are ready to return to the rink for the second season of Phantom Ice and mark the teams 32^nd season of hockey.  For the past two months, the team has been working hard behind the scenes to compile a roster for the extended Winter 2011 season.  Several players who made the teams first season so successful will be departing the team due to the change in nights from Tuesday to Sundays, as they already have Ice obligations on that day.  The Phantoms will be shifting players from the current inline team from Cedar Rock to Walker Ice, as well as bringing in some new players to round out the teams 13-man roster.  It is sad that some longtime members of the Phantoms will not be making the shift to Ice, said Team General Kevin Wootton.  Many of us have played together for nine years and while we are excited to take a new direction and new life in Walker, those players who are not shifting to Ice will be missed in the locker room as well as at the rink, Wootton said.  The Winter 2011 Phantom Ice team will begin its 20-game regular season in early October at Walker Ice & Fitness.  The 10-team league will feature two games against each opponent and following the 20-game regular season, each team will be guaranteed a minimum of three play-off games.  For the top-two teams advancing to the championship game, a Best-of-Three series will take place between them to crown a winner.   League fees for the Phantoms will be $240 per player and citing new league fee rules at Walker Ice & Fitness, each Phantom player will be required to turn in half ($120) on opening night and then the remaining $120 during week #8.  Overall, the cost to play at Walker is fairly reasonable, as it remains at the $10 per game average which is normal in hockey: Walker Ice is $10.43 per game (based on 23 games), Rivertown Sports (Inline) is $11.82 per game (based on 10 games), Cedar Rock (Inline) was $5.85, Cedar Rock (Ice) is $8.59 (based on 27 games).  (Phantoms were spoiled too long at Cedar Rock!). 

Currently, the Phantom Ice roster has 11-skaters signed up to play.  The Phantoms will skate with a full roster of 13-skaters (three forward lines and two pairs of defensive lines).  As of now, just two spots remain open on the Phantom roster for Ice.  If you are interested, please contact Woot at 231-638-1396 ASAP as we have a large drive among players who are out looking for the remaining players to round out the team.  As of now, the Phantoms feature a roster of: Nate Tyler, Jason Schemmel, Trent Kik, Keith Moorman, Tim Vanoverloop, Matt Zehr, Matt Mead, Sean Wert, Brad Zehr, Andy (Keiths friend), Nate (Keiths friend) and Kevin Wootton (goaltender).  The Phantoms are excited for this season, as just like our last season at Walker, the games are real fun and you dont have all of the bull **** that you have at other rinks. It is competitive and relaxing to play.  The Phantoms will again be in the beginner/intermediate league which will be slightly lower/almost the same as the previous season at Walker Ice.