Blue Jackets prospects to play in World Juniors

Four players drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets will be taking part in what has become one of the most entertaining winter rites of the hockey season -- the annual IIHF World U-20 Championship.
Better known as the World Juniors, the tournament has taken on a cult-like following in North America in recent years as it showcases the top players under age 20 in the world. This year's event begins Wednesday, with preliminary play going through Dec. 31, quarterfinals on Jan. 2, semifinals on Jan. 4 and the medal matches Jan. 5. The tournament is being staged in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia.
So who should Blue Jackets fans keep an eye on if they want to see the future? No one drafted by Columbus is on either Team USA or Team Canada -- 2018 first-round pick Liam Foudy was in camp with the Canadians but is now back in London -- but there are draftees representing three different countries taking part.

Russia: F Kirill Marchenko and G Daniil Tarasov
A native of Barnual, Russia, Marchenko was a second-round pick of the Blue Jackets in the 2018 draft. The 6-foot-3, 18-year-old winger has settled in at the VHL level -- the second highest level of Russian hockey -- and has two goals and an assist in 14 games with SKA-Neva, an affiliate of SKA Saint Petersburg. He also has 16 points with 12 games with SKA-1946 of the MHL junior league. Marchenko also has played a game for the big club at SKA, the same team that CBJ draft pick Vladislav Gavrikov plays for.
Tarasov was taken in the third round of the 2017 draft by the Blue Jackets and is projected by many as the top Russian goalie at the event. The 19-year-old stands 6-foot-4 and is a big presence in net. The native of Novokutnetsk, the same hometown as Sergei Bobrovsky, plays for Toros Neftekamsk of the VHL, where he has a 1.95 goals-against average and .916 save percentage in 16 games.
Both have experience at the international level having played for Russia at the World U-18 Championships previously.
Sweden: F Emil Bemstrom
Bemstrom was a fourth-round pick in the 2017 draft and hails from Nykoping, Sweden. The 5-foot-10, 19-year-old playmaker has made it all the way to the top level in Sweden this year and has not only survived but thrived, leading the league with 12 goals and adding four helpers in 23 games with Djurgardens IF. He plays with Jonathan Davidsson, a Jackets draft pick and signee who has seven goals and four assists in 17 games at age 21.
Bemstrom also has international experience at the U-18 level.
Switzerland: D Tim Berni
Berni, 18, was chosen in the 2018 draft as a sixth-round pick by the Blue Jackets. The 5-foot-11 blueliner plays in Switzerland with ZSC Lions where he has five assists in 23 games. He has played previously with the Swiss U-18, U-17 and U-16 teams.