Tarasenko

ST. LOUIS – St. Louis Blues prospects Vladimir Tarasenko and Konstantin Barulin will represent Russia at the 2011 International Ice Hockey Federation’s (IIHF) World Men’s Championship in Slovakia. Tarasenko was the Blues’ first round selection (16th overall) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft and Barulin was the Blues’ third round selection, 84th overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

Tarasenko, 19, a native of Yaroslavl, Russia, played in 42 games last season with Novosibirsk Siber in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) tallying 19 points including nine goals and 10 assists.

In his previous two seasons with Novosibirsk, the 6’0, 205-pound forward accumulated 34 points including 20 goals and 14 assists in 80 appearances.

On the international level, Tarasenko most recently represented Russia at the 2011 World Junior Championship, winning a gold medal and tying for second in the tournament and on the team with 11 points (four goals, seven assists).

Barulin, 26, a 6’1, 205-pound goaltender, played last season with the KHL’s Atlant Mytishi, appearing in 28 games, registering a 13-9-4 record, a 1.91 goals against average along with a .925 save percentage.

The 2011 IIHF World Championship will take place in Kosice and Bratislava, Slovakia, April 29-May 15. Updated stats from the tournament will be posted at www.stlouisblues.com.