The year of the rabbit is all but in the history books for the West Michigan Phantoms and what a huge year it was for Phantom Hockey. There comes a time in everyones life that one is asked to choose a path and go forward at what is a cross roads in ones journey. For the Phantoms, 2011 started out with a decision and now nearly a year later, we look back in amazement at what we accomplished during just a single year. Since 2002, the Phantoms have left its presence throughout the halls of Rivertown Sports and Cedar Rock Sports Plex. In February 2011, the Phantoms kicked off the teams unprecedented 30th season of hockey by hosting inline teams at both Rivertown Sports and Cedar Rock Sports Plex. For the Cedar Rock team, it was a tough season emotionally, as despite honoring those current and past players of the Phantoms, it was rumored (behind the Phantom scenes) that the Spring 2011 season would be the final season of Phantom In-line hockey at the Cedar Rock Sports Plex, a rink that the team had called home since 2006. Rumors and some inside information was pointing that the Spring 2011 season would be the final run of inline hockey in Cedar prior to the rinks decision to shift to ice hockey. With the rumors, the Phantoms went into an all-keout mode to not only offer special $30 league fees to its members, but honor the team which has been able to play constantly since its start in the Fall of 2002. In an effort to write the next chapter in Phantom Hockey History, the team began to drum up support for a new Ice Hockey team and prepare for the future. Under the direction of team netminder Kevin Wootton and longtime team-mates Mike Shaver and Kyle Clark, the Phantoms were able to form an Ice Team and on May 10th made team history as the team defeated DeBoer 7-3 to record the teams first ever ice hockey game in over eight years. Despite roughly half of the Ice Team being regular Phantom players, the team joined forces with Andrew Erickson, Matt Myers, Mitch Hoolsema and Jordan Tompkins and wore the Phantom crest to a second place regular season finish in the inaugural Phantom Ice season. The rumors of the Cedar Rock end to inline hockey were premature. On June 26th, the Phantoms kicked off their 31st season of inline hockey back at Cedar Rock. During the second game of the season, it was finally announced that the Summer 2011 season would become the final season of inline at Cedar Rock, prior to the conversion to Ice. The news struck the Phantoms hard as many long-time Phantoms were set on either not playing ice or not playing ice at Cedar Rock, as other rinks were closer to their house. Despite the disbelief that inline Phantom Hockey was ending and the growing hostility against the Cedar Rock stuff for ending the four-wheeled game, the Phantoms stepped it up during the September 2011 post-season and were able to defeat the Coyote Uglies 5-1 in the Bronze championship game on September 18th to capture the teams sixth championship nearly one month short of the teams nine year birthday. That championship victory was sweet and sour at the same time. First, the victory occurred against a Coyote Ugly team that featured several former Phantom inline and Phantom Ice playersthat was the sweet part. On the sour note, was the fact that several longtime Phantoms such as Brian Doctor, Chris Benedict, Darren Skuse and John Dykehouse would disappear from the team as they decided not to return during the next season which would take place on Ice at Walker Ice & Fitness. The Phantoms always pride itself on a core group of players and losing Brian Doctor was and remains a huge loss to the team. Gordie Anderson also had the team on edge, as the long-time Phantoms wanted nothing to do with Ice Hockey and was ready to hang up the skates for good. Luckily, with the help of fellow team-mates urging him on, Gordie gave in and agreed to play ice for the Phantoms. On October 16, 2011, the very nervous Gordie Anderson and other longtime Phantoms hit the Ice at Walker and with the help of goals from Matt Mead, Nate Skoboda and none other than Gordie Anderson, skated to a 3-2 win against Bobs Bar to open the teams 32nd season and second season on Ice with a Win. After a few games, the team found its roots and the longtime inline members such as Trent Kik, Gordie Anderson, Chad Manning, Nate Tyler were able to play alongside those members who had a season head-start with the Phantoms on Ice such as Matt Zehr, Brad Zehr, Tim Vanoverloop, Sean Wert, Keith Moorman and Matt Mead. Casey Rosenberg and Muskegon friend Gene Smith signed in for the Winter 2011 Ice Season to round out the group. The perfect way to close out a year for Phantom Hockey occurred during the teams final calendar game of 2011. Staged by goals from seven different Phantoms, the team was able to capture a huge 9-0 victory against WM Machining and in the process deliver the first-ever Ice Hockey Shut-Out to myself. The work that I put into securing the teams future on Ice and trying to pull in all of the longtime Phantom inline members was a very hard accomplishment, but all that work, time and effort paid off when Trent Kik tossed me the game puck in the locker room following that Shut-Out Win. Overall, 2011 was a great year for the Phantoms and one that brought positive Change to the team. I would like to thank each and every one of you who have made Phantom Hockey a success for the past 9 years and who were involved in the teams transition to Ice. Without your support and drive to keep Phantom Hockey active, the team would have ended operations years ago. So, as 2011 and the Year of the Rabbit comes to an end, I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year and Best Wishes for another year of Phantom Hockey. You may not be aware of it, but per Chinese culture, 2012 is the Year of the Dragon. And we all remember the teams Dragon Mascot at Rivertown Sports years ago. Kind of interesting as to how things work out! Happy New Year Everyone and Thanks for Your Commitment to Phantom Hockey.
