Steve Kariya

Steven Tetsuo Kariya (born December 22, 1977) is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger and younger brother of retired National Hockey League player Paul Kariya.

Playing career
After playing Junior A with the Nanaimo Clippers, he joined the college hockey ranks with the University of Maine Black Bears. In his senior year, he captained the Black Bears and led them to an NCAA title in 1999.

Having not been drafted by an NHL team, he was signed as a free agent by the Vancouver Canucks and played three-and-a-half years within the organization. During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Kariya went overseas to play for Ilves Tampere of the Finnish SM-liiga and won the Veli-Pekka Ketola trophy as the league's top point-scorer. Remaining in Europe, he played one-season stints with the Espoo Blues, HPK, and JYP, with whom he last played during the 2009–10 season. He also played for Frolunda HC of the Swedish Elitserien for two seasons.

Personal
His brother Martin is also a professional hockey player. He and Martin are the first and only brothers to have won the Veli-Pekka Ketola trophy.

Awards

 * NCAA Hockey East All-Rookie in 1996.
 * Awarded the NCAA Hockey East Sportsmanship Award in 1997, 1998 and 1999.
 * Named to the NCAA All-America First Team in 1999.
 * Named to the NCAA All-Star Team Hockey East in 1999.
 * NCAA Champion with University of Maine in 1999.
 * Awarded the Veli-Pekka Ketola trophy (Most points in SM-liiga) in 2005.