TPS player acquisition - strengthened by a familiar defender: "We believe he will play a key role"

Defender Tarmo Reunanen, 27, returns to Liiga after a one-season break. TPS announces that they have signed a two-year contract with Reunanen, with the second season including a player option for abroad.

TPS is a familiar team to Reunanen. He has represented TPS both in junior teams and later in Liiga.

“It is really significant to have Tare back in Turku and in the strength of TPS in the prime of his career. He brings not only strong puck skills and power play strength to the team, but also valuable experience from Liiga and international arenas. Tare’s competitiveness, excellent work ethic, and leadership are visible both on the ice and in the locker room, and we believe he will play a key role in the team’s defense,” says TPS Sports Director Mika Suoraniemi in the club’s press release.

“Tare is a player who can make a difference – he has the ability to break the pattern at the right moment and create plays in tight spaces. He is a good passer, an excellent skater, and wants to constantly be at the heart of the game. Now that he has gained experience abroad, he will come to strengthen TPS with great drive. He will quickly fit into the routine, and there is no need to teach him to compete – he knows that we need his strengths,” says head coach Toni Söderholm.

Last season, Reunanen played in the Czech Republic’s top league with HC Energie Karlovy Vary. He recorded 32 points (5+27=32) in 50 regular-season games and 4 points (0+4) in 11 playoff games.

For the majority of his Liiga career, Reunanen has represented Lukko, where he last played in the 2022-24 seasons. His single-season point record in Liiga was two seasons ago, when he scored 28 points (8+20=28) in 55 games.

During the 2020-22 seasons, Reunanen played in North America, including four NHL games with the New York Rangers with 1 assist. In the AHL, he played 69 games with 37 points (7+30=37).