PHANTOMS ROUT GUN RU 9-2

Phantoms Open Season #61 By Routing Defending Champion Gun Ru 9-2

The West Michigan Phantoms opened Season #61 with authority Sunday night, storming past defending champion Gun Ru in a dominant 9-2 victory to begin the new season.

Despite missing several regulars — including Sam Schaab (#4), Andrew Erickson (#91), Matt Zehr (#5), and Natalie Nemes (#6) — the Phantoms rolled offensively from the opening puck drop and never looked back against the defending champs.

1st Period

The Phantoms wasted little time igniting the offense in the season opener.

With 6:45 remaining in the opening period, Shawn DeBoer (#17) scored the first Phantoms goal of Season #61 off an assist from Ryker Barber (#26), giving West Michigan an early 1-0 advantage.

Just over three minutes later, Barber (#26) extended the lead to 2-0 with 3:29 left in the period after finishing a setup from Hunter Tuggle (#11).

The pressure continued late in the frame when Zack Kinney (#24) scored unassisted with 2:35 remaining, pushing the lead to 3-0.

Gun Ru managed to answer with 1:20 left in the period, but the Phantoms still carried a strong 3-1 lead into intermission.

2nd Period

The defending champions briefly cut into the deficit early in the second period, scoring with 6:30 remaining to make it 3-2.

That would be the closest Gun Ru would get.

Clay Potochny (#18) answered quickly with an unassisted goal with 5:35 left in the period to restore the two-goal cushion.

Moments later, Ryker Barber (#26) struck again with 4:16 remaining off assists from Hunter Tuggle (#11) and Trevor Zenas (#10), making it 5-2.

Potochny then added his second goal of the night with 2:57 left in the period, finishing a play assisted by Nate Skoboda (#44) as the Phantoms extended the lead to 6-2 entering the third.

3rd Period

The Phantoms kept pouring on offense in the final frame.

With 11:20 remaining, Trevor Zenas (#10) found the back of the net off assists from Clay Potochny (#18) and Hunter Tuggle (#11), stretching the lead to 7-2.

Zenas added another with 7:30 left in regulation after a setup from Zack Kinney (#24) and Potochny (#18).

Then, with 4:40 remaining, Potochny completed the hat trick, scoring off assists from Zenas (#10) and Sam Borger (#28) to cap the 9-2 blowout victory.

Phantoms Leaders

• Clay Potochny (#18) — Hat Trick, Assist

• Trevor Zenas (#10) — 2 Goals, 2 Assists

• Ryker Barber (#26) — 2 Goals, Assist

• Hunter Tuggle (#11) — 3 Assists

• Zack Kinney (#24) — Goal, Assist

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Final Thoughts

Opening the season against the defending league champions is always a major challenge, but the Phantoms looked sharp, aggressive, and deep from top to bottom in the Season #61 opener.

West Michigan showcased balanced scoring, strong puck movement, and relentless pressure throughout the night while sending an early-season message to the rest of the league.

Season #61 is officially underway — and the Phantoms could not have asked for a better start.