Bemström's big year continues as Jackets prospect shines in tourney
Draft picks Davidsson, Vehviläinen also have success in Beijer Hockey Games
by Jeff Svoboda @JacketsInsider / BlueJackets.com
An incredible season for Blue Jackets draft pick Emil Bemström continued this past week at the Beijer Hockey Games.
The fourth-round pick of Columbus in the 2017 draft was named the top forward at the tournament, which included three games in a four-day span through Sunday for each participating nation.
Making his national team debut at the tournament, Bemström tied for the tournament lead with three goals and four points in the three games, including two goals Sunday in the final game vs. Finland.
Another good goal by Blue Jackets prospect Emil Bemström.https://t.co/dLilO8Ra1C#EHT #DIFHockey #CBJ pic.twitter.com/a2OMomGakV
- Eliteprospects (@eliteprospects) February 10, 2019
It continued an impressive season for Bemström, a 19-year-old who starred for Sweden's Under-20 team at the World Junior Championships in December and January, scoring four goals with two assists for six points in five games at the popular tournament.
Bemström also continues to lead the Swedish Hockey League, the top league in the Scandinavian country, with 18 goals while adding 10 assists for 28 points while playing with Djurgårdens IF.
Fellow CBJ propsects Jonathan Davidsson (Sweden) and Veini Vehviläinen (Finland) also took part in the tournament. Davidsson scored a goal, and Vehvilainen started two of the three games for Team Finland, gong 1-1 with a 2.80 goals-against average and .882 save percentage.
Both are 21 years old and were sixth-round picks, with the Blue Jackets drafting Davidsson in 2017 and Vehviläinen a year later. Davidsson has a 10-10-20 line in 31 games this year with Djurgårdens, while Vehviläinen has a league-best 1.41 GAA and .940 save percentage while playing for Kärpät in Finland's Liiga.
Vehviläinen started in net for Finland vs. Sweden in the Beijer Hockey Games finale Sunday and stopped both Bemström and Davidsson in a shootout.
#EHT Finland 🇫 vs Sweden 🇸#CBJ prospects go head-to-head in the shootout. Great attempt from Jonathan Davidsson but Veini Vehviläinen makes an amazing save. pic.twitter.com/D1n0IPjODR
- Jokke Nevalainen (@JokkeNevalainen) February 10, 2019
Finland won that game 5-4 in the shootout for its lone win of the tournament. Sweden's lone victory came Saturday over Russia.