The Espoo Blues were also strong competitors at international tournaments in this period, earning medals at six IIHF European Women's Champions Cups: three silver medals (2005, 2007-08, 2009-10) and three bronze medals (2008-09, 2013–14, 2014–15). Espoo United, 2016–17 In March 2016 Jääkiekko Espoo Oy, the parent club of both the Espoo Blues of the Naisten Liiga and Espoo Blues of the Liiga, declared bankruptcy with estimated liabilities of approximately €3 million. In response, Jussi Salonoja, a Finnish millionaire and film director who had previously owned the Espoo Blues franchise from 2002–2012, created a new club and organization called Espoo United Oy, stating that he was "committed to supporting hockey in Espoo." The Espoo Blues men's and women's basketball and ice hockey teams would play for Espoo United. For the 2016–17 season the Espoo United women's ice hockey team played in the Naisten SM-sarja and won silver in the 2017 Finnish Championship. The Espoo United men's team played in the Mestis, the league below the premier-level Liiga, where they won bronze in the playoffs. On 15 August 2017 Salonoja announced that the Espoo United was abandoning its women's ice hockey and basketball teams for financial reasons. “The reason is twofold: the men's teams' budgets are far greater than those of women's teams, so their running is more demanding, but on the other hand, [the men's teams] are more interesting to sponsors and audiences,” Salonoja said. The future of women's ice hockey team was left uncertain and many possible solutions were proposed, including being acquired by HIFK or merging with Espoo Blues Juniorit (a junior club with strong ties to the franchise). Espoo Blues part 2, 2017–2019 In September 2017 the Finnish Ice Hockey Association announced that it had supported the creation of an independent association, Ysikoppi ry, to oversee the team and had given its approval for the team to compete in the upcoming 2017–18 season under the name Espoo Blues. Players and personnel 2022–23 roster Coaching staff and team personnel Head coach: Sami Haapanen Assistant coach: Johanna Leskinen Goaltending coach: Risto Jaakkola Conditioning coach: Viola Kaukonen Team managers: Jarko Malm & Matti Väyrynen Equipment manager: Marko Ahlroth Team captaincy history Katri-Helena Luomajoki, 1997–98 Essi Sievers, 2007–2009 Emma Terho (), 2009–2011 Essi Sievers, 2011–12 Emma Terho, 2012–2014 Minttu Tuominen, 2014–2016 Linda Leppänen (), 2016–17 Minttu Tuominen, 2017–2020 Annina Rajahuhta, 2020–21 Minttu Tuominen, 2021–22 Emmi Rakkolainen, 2022– Head coaches Johanna Ikonen, 1998–99