Checking in on the Blue Jackets Players at the IIHF World Championship

By Coby Maeir on May 18, 2022 at 1:45 pm
Alexandre Texier
John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
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Representing your country has to be one of the greatest honors that can be bestowed upon an athlete.

This year, eight members of the Columbus Blue Jackets are doing just that by playing for six different countries at the IIHF World Championship. Let's see how they are performing.

Cole Sillinger, Canada

Sillinger is continuing what has been the longest season of his hockey career by playing for Team Canada. He has scored two goals in three games, playing 12:57 of ice time per game. He's registered 10 shots on goal and has a +5 rating.

 

Coming off a rookie campaign that saw him score 16 goals and 31 points, Sillinger is continuing to impress on the world stage, even as a 19-year-old. 

Kent Johnson, Canada

Like Sillinger, Johnson is just 19 years old. But, he only played in nine NHL games so he will be able to maintain his rookie status through next season. In those nine games, he posted three assists. At the World Championship, he scored two goals in three games on seven shots on goal while playing 15:31 of ice time per game.

Hopefully, for both Johnson and the Jackets, his strong performance in the World Championship can lead to a strong 2022-23 season for the 2021 No. 5 overall pick.

Dean Kukan, Switzerland

Although he has yet to record a point, Kukan has led the Swiss in time on ice per game by over a minute at 19:44. He also carries a +4 rating which is tied for second-best on the team and has registered nine shots on goal. 

This translates to: "During the final period, Patrick Fischer only played three lines and left Dominik Egli and Christian Marti on the bench. He also gave more than 8 minutes of ice to Dean Kukan who was again very good."

Kukan played in just 41 games this season so playing at the Worlds allows him not only to represent Switzerland but to try and make up some of the reps he lost in those 41 missed games. 

Alexandre Texier, France

In 39 games this season for Columbus, Texier scored 11 goals and 20 points but played his final game of the season on January 26.

In his first game action since then, he has shined for France at the World Championship, tying for first on his team in goals with two and points with three. He has played 19:24 of ice time per game and registered 18 shots on goal. He was the IIHF Player of the Day on Sunday, May 15.

Texier's strong performance is an encouraging sign as he enters his fifth NHL season.

Andrew Peeke, United States

Coming off a full 82-game season with the Blue Jackets, Peeke has continued to log minutes for The United States. His 19:36 of ice time per game ranks second on the team, behind former Jackets defenseman Seth Jones. Peeke has registered an assist, five shots on goal, and has yet to commit a penalty. 

However, Peeke is not the only Blue Jacket representing The United States. 

Nick Blankenburg, United States

The 24-year-old rookie played in seven NHL games, recording a goal and two assists. He has yet to record a point at the World Championship, but he has logged 14:33 of ice time per game and like Peeke, has not committed a penalty. 

This is the first time Blankenburg has represented The United States at an IIHF tournament.

Emil Bemstrom, Sweden

This season, Bemstrom played in 41 games and scored five goals and 11 points. For Sweden, he has scored one goal and three points while registering 14 shots on goal playing 18:18 of time on ice per game. 

Bemstrom will look to build on this performance heading into his fourth NHL season.

Elvis Merzlikins, Latvia

At the last media availability of the season, Merzlikins said he is going to use this tournament as "my playoffs." He has played all three games for Latvia so far, posting a record of 1-2-0 alongside a .907SV% and a 2.68 GAA.

Merzlikins is entering his fourth NHL season and will look to be the goalie to lead the Jackets back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2020.

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