The West Michigan Phantoms have completed the teams roster for the upcoming 32nd season of Phantom Hockey and the second season at Walker Ice & Fitness.  On Sunday, September 11th, Phantom General Manager Kevin Wootton has announced that Gene Smith has become the 13th skater and 14th overall player to pen a contract for the ice season which is set to begin in early October.  Gene Smith, a native of Muskegon and graduate of Mona Shores, is set to embark on his first-ever season with the Phantoms and return to an active hockey team for the first time in nearly eight years.  However, Gene isnt a stranger to the Phantom group as Gene has been surrounded by the Phantom likes of Gordie Anderson, Chris Benedict, Casey Rosenberg, Derek Reid, Brad Zehr, Matt Zehr, Kevin Wootton for a number of years and is a so-called regular in the group that calls Muskegon home.  Gene will return to the ice with former ice team-mates Brad Zehr and Matt Zehr, who won numerous league championships back in the middle school days in the Norton Shores recreational leagues.  The addition of Gene to the Phantoms has been years in the making, said Wootton.  His very comic personality and overall humorous style will surely keep the bench up-beat and keep the close knit group of Phantom members relaxed and in good spirits, added Wootton.  Gene becomes the first player since the Phantoms were founded in 2002 that comes to the team by-way of the old Lincoln Park Elementary Inline Hockey days back in the 1990s.  Gene, as well as team goaltender Kevin Wootton and team-sub Brian Doctor were regulars on the black-top during their elementary and middle school days prior to the group shifting to Seyferths Park to play on an actual inline rink with current and former members such as Keith Moorman, Gordie Anderson, Casey Rosenberg, Art Dorsey and others.  As mentioned the signing of Gene Smith brings to 14 the number of players signed for the upcoming season.  Gene Smith joins the Phantoms with a roster comprised of Trent Kik, Nate Tyler, Jason Schemmel, Tim Vanoverloop, Chad Manning, Sean Wert, Matt Mead, Brad Zehr, Matt Zehr, Keith Moorman, Andy (Keiths friend), Nate (Keiths friend) and netminder Kevin Wootton.  In addition, the team has numerous subs in place for the 20+ game season including Gordie Anderson, Tim Czycyk, Chris Benedict, Casey Rosenberg, Brian Doctor, Ryan Mylenek and Mike Shaver.  Gene Smith was also responsible for securing extra gear for Gordie Anderson to work his way into ice hockey and remain active with the Yellow & Black.  I am very pleased with the group we have lined up for this season, Wootton said.  We surely lost some great talent from last seasons ice team, but I am confident that over time this group will grow and be become a great ice team, added Wootton.  One thing is for sure, I dont think you could have developed a more relaxed group with a better chemistry than we did.  This group will be the perfect mix of talent for a league that continues to play for fun as they do at Walker Ice & Fitness, said Wootton.  In the next few days the Phantoms plan to release the teams practice schedule prior to the start of the regular season in early October.