Phantoms watch lead evaporate; fall in shoot-out 5-6

Thundercocks 6, West Michigan Phantoms 5 (Shootout)

Sunday, June 28, 2026 • Walker Ice & Fitness Center • Walker, Michigan

The West Michigan Phantoms suffered one of their toughest defeats of Season 61 on Sunday afternoon at Walker Ice & Fitness Center, watching a commanding 4-1 lead early in the third period completely disappear before ultimately falling 6-5 in a shootout to the Thundercocks.

The Phantoms skated without Natalie Nemes (#6), Jason Young (#7), Shawn DeBoer (#17), Clay Potochny (#18), and Nate Skoboda (#44), forcing several lineup adjustments heading into the contest. Despite the absences, the Phantoms put together one of their strongest offensive performances of the summer through the first two periods.

Hunter Tuggle (#11) opened the scoring with 11:21 remaining in the first period, converting a setup from Matt Myers (#42) to give the home side an early 1-0 advantage. The Phantoms controlled much of the opening frame and carried the lead into the first intermission.

The Thundercocks answered in the second period when Joe Didki scored an unassisted marker with 8:06 remaining to tie the game. The Phantoms responded quickly. Just forty seconds later, Sam Borger (#24) buried a pass from Brad Zehr (#21) to restore the lead and send West Michigan into the third period ahead 2-1.

What followed in the opening moments of the third period suggested a comfortable Phantoms victory.

Sam Schaab (#4) scored with 11:12 remaining after a beautiful feed from Ryker Barber (#26), extending the lead to 3-1. Less than a minute later, Matt Myers (#42) added an unassisted goal to make it 4-1, giving the Phantoms complete control and seemingly putting the game out of reach.

Unfortunately, the momentum changed almost immediately.

The Thundercocks answered only twenty seconds later as #14 converted a pass from Justin Coulson to trim the deficit to 4-2. Trevor Zenas (#10) momentarily settled things down, scoring with 8:09 remaining off assists from Hunter Tuggle and Brad Zehr to restore a three-goal cushion at 5-2.

From that point on, however, the Phantoms watched the lead disappear.

Joe Didki struck again with 7:09 remaining, converting a setup from #14 to make it 5-3. Just over a minute later, #24 found the back of the net off a Justin Coulson assist, bringing the Thundercocks within one.

The collapse was completed in heartbreaking fashion with only nineteen seconds left in regulation. Joe Didki completed his hat trick with another unassisted goal, tying the game at 5-5 and stunning the home bench.

The overtime session solved nothing, sending the contest to a shootout.

In the skills competition, Joe Didki opened with a goal for the Thundercocks while Ryker Barber was denied. Thundercocks forward #24 followed with another tally, and Hunter Tuggle’s attempt missed, sealing the comeback victory for the visitors.

The defeat was particularly painful considering the Phantoms held a 4-1 lead early in the third period and controlled much of the first forty minutes. A game that appeared destined to be a comfortable win instead became one of the most frustrating losses of the season.

Still, there were bright spots. Matt Myers (#42) recorded a goal and an assist, Hunter Tuggle added a goal and an assist, Brad Zehr contributed two assists, and Sam Schaab, Sam Borger, and Trevor Zenas each found the back of the net.