the Cedar Rock Sports Plex. The Phantoms entered the Cedar Springs scene in the Fall of 2006 and were able to use a Nate Tyler game-winning strike in the championship game against Rouge River on February 11, 2007 to stake the Phantoms Silver-Division Championship in the teams first season north of Grand Rapids. Years later, Chris Benedict would stage a third period goal just 54 seconds into the third period that would ultimately hold to be the game-winner for the Phantoms against the Coyote Uglies for yet another championship and the final bronze championship by any team at Cedar Rock prior to their conversion to Ice hockey. The Phantoms would enter Cedar Rock as Champions and Depart as Champions. A total of 249 Phantom games would be played at Cedar Rock from the fall of 2006 to the summer of 2011 and during that span; a total of four championships would be lifted by the Black & Yellow. As mentioned, this Summer 2011 season was filled with numerous storylines. First, the championship comes just five days after the Phantom franchise turned nine years old. In addition, the championship comes in the season that allowed the Phantoms to topple the 500-career-game-plateau and in the season that allowed the team to register its 300th victory. On the individual side, several players reached milestones during the award-winning season. No player in Phantom history has been able to climb the ladder in terms of statistics quicker than Chris Benedict. During this 31st season of Phantom Hockey, Benedict was able to record his 100th career Phantom goal on July 10th and surpassed 50 career assists on August 14th. Gordie Anderson was able to topple the 100-career-assist mark on September 11th, while Jason Schemmel was able to surpass the 50-career-assist mark on June 26th. Additionally, Chad Manning netted his 50th Career Phantom goal as the first of a hat-trick he scored on June 26th. The season also saw two Phantom families expand, as Brynn Marie Anderson (Gordie & Stephanie) was born on July 28th and Braelynn Marie Benedict (Chris & Abi) on April 30th. Furthermore, former Phantom and team sub Casey Rosenberg was married on September 10th to Tonya Fenton and Brian Doctor became engaged to Stephanie Johnson during the summer. Hard to believe all of the children, weddings, engagements, career stats and franchise milestones that have been made by members of the Phantoms this season and those made since the team began in 2002 when the and their families since the guys began playing in 2002 with baby-faces still in place.
During the Summer 2011 season, Chad Manning would lead the team in scoring with 16 goals, while Chris Benedict was in a close second with 15 on the season. Benedict would lead the team in points with a total of 27 (15G and 12A) and would also lead the team in penalty minutes with 14. Newcomer Ryan Mylenek would capture the second highest penalty minute total on the team with 13 minutes. Several players would complete the season without a single penalty, including Brian Doctor, John Dykehouse, Trent Kik, Tim Czycyk and Tim Vanoverloop. Newcomer Ryan Mylenek would complete his first Phantom season with 6 goals, 4 assists and 13 penalty minutes, while Eric Stubig would net 4 goals, 5 assists and 8 penalty minutes. Two suspensions would be handed out during the season for the Phantoms, including a one game for Gordie Anderson and one game for Ryan Mylenek. The Phantoms would out shoot their opponents 266 to 228 on the season. Continuing with the offensive power, the Phantoms would also out score their opponents 73-48. The Phantoms would play numerous games with Tim Czycyk, Tim Vanoverloop and Brad Zehr acting as subs, as numerous players would be inflicted with injuries including Brian Doctor, John Dykehouse and Gordie Anderson. Historically, the Phantoms will climb to 317-171-8-3 through their now 31 season run and were able to post positive gains into the goal differential category which rose to a positive 609 though the teams now 509 games played.
