SUMMER 2011 (INLINE; CEDAR ROCK SPORTS PLEX); SEASON #31 (SUMMER 2011)

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SUMMARY:

The West Michigan Phantoms closed out their inline career at the Cedar Rock Sports Plex the best way that they could have imagined on Sunday Night.  Staged by a three goal performance from Chris Benedict and a great showing by Kevin Wootton in goal, the Phantoms were able to defeat the Coyote Uglies 5-1 in the Bronze League championship game to capture the teams fourth championship at Cedar Rock and sixth overall.   The under-dogs were able to strike with an opening period goal by Tim Czycyk, followed by four unanswered goals in the final frame to take claim to the league championship.  Despite skating with only eight skaters, the Phantoms would display a calm and collected nature during the entire contest to stun the highly skilled Coyotes and end their single season title as league champions.  The Phantoms would climb into an early 1-0 lead just 1:44 into the championship tilt, as Tim Czycyk would register his third of the season for the Phantom Clan (unassisted).  That early goal would be the single lamp-light of the opening period, as the Phantoms would enter the first intermission in front of a 1-0 lead. The Coyotes would outshoot the Phantoms 9-8 through the opening period.  In the second period, the Phantoms would face the first of three Coyote power-plays of the evening, as the Coyotes would go on the extra-man-band while the Phantoms would be sentenced on a roughing infraction. The gallant effort of the Phantom penalty killing unit would be successful, as the Phantoms would return to full strength.  Minutes following the Phantoms return to full strength, a defensive mistake by the Phantoms in front of their own bench would yield a 2-on-0 breakaway  for the Coyotes and former Phantom Ice member Mitch Hoolsema would beat the Phantom netminder five-hole to deadlock the contest at 1-1.  Despite another Phantom penalty late in the middle stanza for hooking, the Men of Phantom Nation would again pass with black and yellow colors on the penalty kill to return to full-strength without setback.  Both teams would complete the second period tied 1-1.  In the second period, the Coyotes would again outshoot their opponents 8-7 to increase their shot advantage over the nine-year proud West Michigan Phantoms 17-15.  The first and second periods were a great display of the two top Bronze defensive teams of this 2011 season.  In the third period, the Phantoms would take their second-ranked leading bronze offense and begin to turn up the heat on the Coyotes and put the game away, all within keeping the teams defense absolutely stunning.  Just 54 seconds into the third period, Chris Benedict would stage his very lucky thirteenth goal of the season  (assisted by Jason Schemmel) to restore the Phantom lead at 2-1.  Exactly 1:10 later, the Phantoms would climb into their first multi-goal lead of the contest, as Jason Schemmel would net his fourth of the season and end a three game scoreless skid on a mass scramble in front of the Coyote cage (assisted by Gordie Anderson) to mount the Phantoms into a 3-1 lead.  The Phantoms third period championship game fury would continue 2:10 later, as Chris Benedict would strike with his second of the contest and 14th of the season (unassisted) with 10:46 remaining in regulation to increase the Phantom lead to a trifecta at 4-1.  As Coyote frustration mounted, the pressure would reach the breaking point as the Coyotes Matt Myers and the Phantoms Ryan Mylenek would drop the gloves just in front of the cage with roughly 7:00 minutes remaining in the game.  Both Myers and Mylenek (top players for each club) would be banished from the contest for the duration, and for Mylenek, would etch his name into the all-time Phantom  Tough-Guy-Tribute in the final game of the Summer 2011 season with a game suspension (along with Myers). Rhino would complete the season with just four minors and a major on the season.  Late in the third period, the Phantoms Jason Schemmel would be sentenced on a delay of game penalty, as the longtime Phantom would inadvertently shoot the puck out of the rink along the Phantom bench.  That delay of game call would yield to the third powerplay opportunity of the contest for the Coyotes.  Even with Greg Foster pulled for the extra-extra-attacker, the Coyotes could not break through the Phantom shied on their 5-on-3 extra-man-band.   With 1:46 remaining, the Phantoms Chris Benedict would put the game away as the former Mona Shores standout and Division 3 Old Dominion Head Coach would launch the puck from the Phantoms goal-line and airlift the puck just inside the top cross-bar to seal the victory for the Phantoms by the final of 5-1.  For Benedict, it would be his fourth hat-trick of the season.  The  Phantoms played without the services of Brian Doctor, Eric Stubig, John Dykehouse and Chad Manning.  Tim Vanoverloop and Tim Czycyk were again called into action for the Phantoms, who played a lot of games this season as subs due to the vast array of injuries faced by Phantom players this season.  In the third period, the Coyotes again outshot the Phantoms 8-7 and managed to cap a 25-22 advantage on the game.  The Phantoms would be sentenced on three minors and a major on the game, while the Coyotes would be banished on a single major.  Of their three powerplays on the night, the Coyotes would go 0-for-3.   As mentioned, the victory clinched the Summer 2011 Bronze league championship for the Phantoms and evened the season series at 2-2 for the Phantoms against the Coyotes.  The Phantoms completed the Summer 2011 season with an 8-3-0 overall record.  The team will  return to action on Sunday, October 16th at Walker Ice & Fitness as the team departs Cedar Rock as a result of the rink closing down inline hockey to switch over to ice.  We would like to thank everyone who made this 31st season so successful.  To the wives, girlfriends and kids of the Phantoms, thanks for supporting and allowing the guys to keep the rich tradition and now nine-year-history of the Phantoms ongoing.

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ROSTER:

#4 Tim Vanoverloop, #9 Nate Tyler, #10 Chad Manning, #11 Brian Doctor, #13 John Dykehouse, #14 Tim Czycyk, #15 Ryan Mylenek, #18 Eric Stubig, #28 Jason Schemmel, #35 Kevin Wootton, #47 Chris Benedict, #87 Gordie Anderson, #88 Trent Kik

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