Phantoms’ Sekac playing in world event

YOUNGSTOWN

The International Ice Hockey Federation’s World Under-18 championship has reached its playoff round, featuring some Youngstown Phantoms players.

Both the Czech Republic team, featuring Phantoms forward Jiri Sekac, and the United States’ entry, comprised almost entirely of USHL players, advanced out of the preliminary round. Those teams played Tuesday in a quarterfinal matchup in Minsk, the capital of Belarus.

Sekac, who scored two goals and nine assists after joining the Phantoms in December, contributed to the Czech cause with a pair of goals in four preliminary round games, helping his nation finish third in the five-team Group B with a 2-1-1 record.

The Americans finished with a 3-1-0 record to finish second in Group A; losing only to group-winner Sweden.

Defenseman Adam Clendening leads all Team USA players with six points (two goals, four assists), while Jason Zucker and Rocco Grimaldi each have five points.

Goaltender Jack Campbell, who led America to the gold medal in this year’s World Junior Championship, has played in three contests and stopped 95.2 percent of the shots he’s faced.

In addition, former Mahoning Valley Phantom Brandon Saad (two goals, two assists) has a plus-3 rating for Team USA, which has outscored its opponents 19-6.

The winner of Tuesday’s quarterfinal will face Finland, which won Group B and earned a bye into the semifinals. Sweden received the other bye and is scheduled to play the winner of the Russia-Switzerland quarterfinal. Both semifinals will be played today with the gold- and bronze-medal contests on Friday.