ESPOO, Finland – Finnish runner-up Espoo Blues announced contract extensions with forwards Ryan Keller, for two years, and Ben Eaves for one season.

Keller, a 24 year-old Canadian, came to Espoo one year ago and was the team’s top scorer notching 22 goals and 22 assists in 47 games.

Former Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Eaves, 26, made a comeback last winter with Espoo after a year-long pause due to a knee injury. He had three goals and four assists in ten games. The Blues have high hopes that the American will have a solid season if he can stay injury-free. Eaves is the son of Mike Eaves, a U18 and U20 gold-medal winning coach for the U.S.

The club sees the signings as important steps for the new season and the new challenge of the Champions Hockey League.

“We want a season of success both in the SM-Liiga and in the Champions Hockey League, therefore we have the need to extend our roster,” says manager Tom Kivimaki. “In the CHL we can potentially earn up to €1.7m in prize money.”

The club also announced two-year contract extensions with Stefan Ohman, Jani Lajunen, Rami Alanko, Santeri Heiskanen, Kristian Nakyva, and one-year extentions with Miika Huczkowski, Mikael Kurki and Toni Kahkonen. Three players, Mika Korhonen, Antti Harma and Roope Ranta, will be loaned to second-tier clubs.