The two 21-year-olds will now have the chance to fulfill a dream with a squad many consider pre-tournament favorites given their ability to have some of the top players in the KHL take part.
Marchenko and Voronkov have each moved into that discussion in recent years as well given their successes both in their KHL sweaters and the Russian national team jersey as well.
Marchenko is a talented sniper who has filled up the new with traditional power SKA St. Petersburg, posting a 27-21-48 line in his last 80 games with the team over the past two years. This year, after a hot start, the winger has 12 goals and 20 points in 39 games. Marchenko also represented Russia internationally at the 2019 and 2020 World Junior Championships.
Voronkov is more of a physical presence down the middle who tends to play his best in the biggest games. The 6-foot-4 center has a 7-5-12 line this year in 38 games with Ak Bars Kazan, but he has impressed previously in the KHL postseason (6-4-10 in 15 games last year) and in the Russian sweater. A member of the 2020 World Juniors team and 2021 World Championships team, Voronkov has an 11-14-25 line in 30 career games representing his country at all levels.
The Russian team also includes former CBJ forwards Artem Anisimov and Mikhail Grigorenko. Voronkov and Marchenko join 2020 third-round pick Samuel Knazko (Slovakia) among CBJ prospects to be chosen for Olympic teams, while 2021 first-round pick Kent Johnson is expected to have a role with Team Canada.
