The West Michigan Phantoms have expanded their full-time roster beyond the traditional 13-skater lineup to provide greater flexibility throughout the season, reduce the need for last-minute substitute players, and help keep individual league fees as low as possible. The team developed this approach using attendance and roster data collected over previous seasons. With players balancing work, family, travel, injuries, and other commitments, the Phantoms recognize that not every player will be available every week.

 

“We understand life creates its own schedule at times, and hockey may not always be possible during a given week,” said Kevin Wootton. “Carrying additional full-time players gives our teams more flexibility and helps eliminate the rush and uncertainty that can come with trying to find substitutes at the last minute.”

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For the 2026 Fall/Winter season, the Phantoms carry 17 full-time skaters while maintaining a game-day goal of approximately 13 skaters. The Volunteer Scratch Program (VSP) is designed to help manage those numbers fairly while providing players with an opportunity to receive credit for voluntarily sitting out games when the roster is full.

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VSP Designations

To make the program easier to track, the Phantoms will use two VSP designations:

• VSP-O — Out: Used when a player notifies the team prior to game day that they will be unavailable and requests to use one of their VSP opportunities. A player may receive credit for a maximum of four VSP-O games per season.  Only up to the total number of available VSPs per game will be granted, see tracker.

• VSP-V — Volunteer: Used when the team is still above its desired game-day roster size and asks for volunteers to sit out. VSP-V games do not count toward the four-game VSP-O maximum.

Both designations will be recorded on the team’s Player Tracker so players and team management can clearly distinguish between planned VSP absences and game-day volunteer scratches.

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How VSP-O Works

Each full-time player may receive credit for a maximum of four VSP-O games per season.

To receive a VSP-O credit, a player must notify the team prior to game day that they will be unavailable. VSP-O requests will be accepted based on the team’s roster needs for that particular game.

Approved VSP-O scratches will be recorded on the Player Tracker and will count toward that player’s four-game seasonal maximum.

Once a player has reached four credited VSP-O games, additional games missed will not qualify for a VSP-O refund unless otherwise approved by team management.

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How VSP-V Works

If the team remains above its desired 13-skater lineup on the day of the game, a message may be sent through the team group chat asking for additional players to voluntarily sit out.

Players who respond to that request will be designated as VSP-V.

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A VSP-V scratch is separate from VSP-O and does not use one of the player’s four VSP-O credits. This allows players to help the team manage an unexpectedly large game-day roster without being penalized against their seasonal VSP-O allowance.

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There is no four-game seasonal limit associated with VSP-V scratches when the player is responding to an official team request for volunteers.

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Players who independently remove themselves from the lineup on game day, without responding to an official request for volunteers, will not automatically qualify for a VSP-V designation or refund.

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VSP Refunds and Credits

VSP refunds become available after both the player and the team have paid their applicable league fees in full.

The purpose of the program is not to encourage players to miss games. Instead, it provides a fair and organized way to manage an expanded full-time roster while helping the Phantoms consistently reach their desired game-day lineup.

The program is designed so that:

• The Phantoms can regularly dress approximately 13 skaters.

• Each player may receive credit for up to four VSP-O games per season.

• VSP-V volunteer scratches do not count toward the four-game VSP-O maximum.

• Players have an opportunity to help the team when additional game-day scratches are needed.

• Full-time roster opportunities can remain available to more players.

• The team can reduce its reliance on last-minute substitute players.

• League costs can be distributed across a larger full-time roster.

The VSP-O and VSP-V designations give the Phantoms a simple and transparent way to distinguish between planned absences and team-requested volunteer scratches while keeping the overall program fair for everyone.

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