Emil Bemström Bio
Emil Bemström is a Swedish professional ice hockey forward who currently plays for SC Bern of the Swiss National League (NL). Born on 1 June 1999 in Luleå, Sweden, he is listed at 6 feet 0 inches tall and 190 pounds, and he is recognized for his offensive instincts and one-timer on the power play. He previously represented the Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL) after being selected in the fourth round, 117th overall, of the 2017 NHL entry draft.
Early Life and Background
Emil Bemström was born on 1 June 1999 in Luleå, Sweden, though he grew up in the smaller community of Trosa. He first learned the game with local club Järna SK before moving into the Leksands IF youth system, one of Sweden’s most respected development pipelines. His early promise on the ice was shaped by the standard professional environment at Leksand and by a family deeply rooted in Swedish hockey.
Hockey runs in the Bemström family. Emil’s father, Jörgen Bemström, played 517 games in the SHL, then known as the Elitserien, and also represented the Sweden men’s national ice hockey team in five international appearances. Growing up around that background gave Emil direct exposure to the rhythms of an elite hockey life, from travel to preparation, that would later shape his own approach to the game.
Path to Hockey
Emil Bemström made his professional debut with Leksands IF in the 2016–17 season, appearing scoreless in five Swedish Hockey League games as a teenager. The season was interrupted when he was diagnosed with pericardium inflammation, an ailment that kept him out of the lineup for two months. Following Leksand’s relegation to the HockeyAllsvenskan for the 2017–18 campaign, Bemström posted 8 goals and 15 points in 33 games and scored his first goal in the Allsvenskan during a 3–1 victory over IK Oskarshamn in October 2017.
On 2 May 2018, Bemström signed a two-year contract with Djurgårdens IF, returning to the top Swedish league. The move marked a clear step up in competition and gave him a larger platform to develop. He had already been selected in the fourth round of the 2017 NHL entry draft, so the Djurgården assignment served as a bridge between his junior years and a future in North America.
Emil Bemström Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
After his productive Allsvenskan season with Leksand, Bemström joined Djurgårdens IF and announced himself immediately at the SHL level. In the 2018–19 regular-season opener against Frölunda HC on 15 September 2018, he scored his first SHL goal, an early sign of the scoring touch that would define that year.
It was a true breakout campaign. Bemström led the entire SHL in goals and power play goals, captured Rookie of the Year honors, and won the regular-season scoring title with 23 goals. He was also named junior player of the year by the Swedish ice hockey journalist association, and he added five goals and ten points in the playoffs as Djurgården reached the championship round. Internationally, he represented Sweden at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in August 2016 and was later invited to the 2019 World Juniors.
Columbus Blue Jackets Era (2019–2024)
Following his dominant SHL campaign, Bemström signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on 15 May 2019 and earned a roster spot out of training camp. He was expected to help offset the offseason loss of Artemi Panarin and responded with a steady rookie year, finishing with 10 goals and 20 points in 56 games.
When the 2020–21 NHL season was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Bemström accepted a loan to Finnish club HIFK of the Liiga on 8 September 2020. He produced 8 goals and 17 points in 16 games in Finland, then returned to Columbus, where he scored only three goals in the NHL that season. All three came in his first career hat trick, a memorable performance against the Nashville Predators and goaltender Juuse Saros on 3 May 2021. In 2021–22, he dealt with an oblique strain in training camp and finished with 6 goals and 11 points in 41 games, but he signed a two-year contract extension with the Blue Jackets on 3 August 2022.
The 2022–23 season saw Bemström open with the Cleveland Monsters in the American Hockey League, where he led the league in scoring before being recalled by Columbus on 7 November. Despite a turbulent role that included shifts up and down the lineup, he set a new career high with 22 points in 55 NHL games. He began 2023–24 with the Blue Jackets, posting 3 goals and 4 points in 12 games, before being placed on waivers on 15 November 2023 and assigned to Cleveland the next day.
Pittsburgh Penguins Era (2024–2025)
On 23 February 2024, the Blue Jackets traded Bemström to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for forward Alexander Nylander and a conditional 2026 sixth-round pick. He made an immediate impact, scoring a power play goal on his Penguins debut in a 7–6 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on 25 February 2024. In 24 games with Pittsburgh, he recorded 3 goals and 5 points.
Bemström did not secure a roster spot with the Penguins for 2024–25 and, after clearing waivers, was assigned to the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He excelled there, posting 23 goals and 48 points in 48 games, and on 25 January 2025 he was selected to the 2025 AHL All-Star Classic. Pittsburgh recalled him on 7 February to replace an injured Sidney Crosby, sent him back to the AHL on 22 February, recalled him again on 27 February to cover for an injured Michael Bunting, and finally returned him to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on 12 April. He finished the NHL season with one assist in 14 games with Pittsburgh. After the season, the Penguins did not extend a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Driving Style and Strengths
Emil Bemström is best known for his elite shot, particularly his quick one-timer from the left circle on the power play, an asset that helped him lead the SHL in power play goals in 2018–19. He is a smart, offensively driven forward whose vision and finishing have consistently produced goals at every level, even when his overall consistency has fluctuated between assignments.
Notable Events and Milestones
His first career NHL hat trick against the Nashville Predators on 3 May 2021 stands out as a signature moment, as does his selection to the 2025 AHL All-Star Classic. He also represented Sweden at the senior level for the first time at the 2022 IIHF World Championship, underscoring his standing within the country’s hockey community.
Emil Bemström Career Wins
While ice hockey forwards are typically judged on goals and points rather than traditional wins, Emil Bemström’s offensive résumé includes a regular-season scoring title in the SHL, an AHL scoring lead with the Cleveland Monsters, and selection to the 2025 AHL All-Star Classic. His hat trick against Nashville and his power play goal on his Penguins debut bookend a career built on timely scoring.
SHL Highlights
In 2018–19, Bemström led the Swedish Hockey League in goals and power play goals, captured Rookie of the Year honors, and was named junior player of the year by the Swedish ice hockey journalist association. He also reached the SHL championship round that spring, contributing 5 goals and 10 points in the playoffs for Djurgårdens IF.
Other Wins & Performances
Bemström scored 8 goals and 17 points in 16 Liiga games on loan with HIFK in 2020–21, and he produced 23 goals and 48 points in 48 AHL games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2024–25. He also tallied 8 goals and 15 points in 33 HockeyAllsvenskan games with Leksands IF in 2017–18.
Emil Bemström Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Hockey is a family tradition for the Bemströms. Emil’s father, Jörgen Bemström, was a longtime SHL defender who appeared in 517 Elitserien games and earned five caps with the Sweden men’s national ice hockey team. That professional pedigree helped shape Emil’s earliest training environment and his understanding of the daily demands of the sport.
Personal Life
Emil Bemström maintains a relatively private personal life away from the rink. Public details about a spouse, partner, or children are not widely documented in verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
On 12 August 2025, it was announced that Emil Bemström had signed a one-year contract with SC Bern of the Swiss National League ahead of the 2025–26 season, marking his return to European hockey after five seasons split between the NHL and the AHL. The move offered him a featured offensive role and a chance to reset his career on a top Swiss stage.
Throughout the early portion of 2025, his production in North America had been mixed. He was a scoring force with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, posting 23 goals and 48 points in 48 AHL games, but he managed only one assist in 14 NHL appearances with Pittsburgh before becoming an unrestricted free agent. His trip to the 2025 AHL All-Star Classic highlighted how productive he remained at the second-tier level, even as his NHL role had diminished.
Looking ahead, Bemström joins a SC Bern side that has historically been among the strongest in Swiss hockey, giving him a fresh opportunity to play a top-six forward role and a featured spot on the power play. If his 2018–19 SHL scoring title and his recent AHL pace are any indication, the 2025–26 campaign could mark a confident rebound for the 26-year-old Swede.