Paul Kariya

Paul Tetsuhiko Kariya (狩谷 哲彦 Kariya Tetsuhiko, born October 16, 1974) in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada is a professional ice hockey player for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League.

Related Topics:
October 16 - 1974 - Vancouver - British Columbia - Canada - Ice hockey - Nashville Predators - National Hockey League

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His father was born in an internment camp in Greenwood, Canada to Tetsuhiko Kariya, A Sansei Japanese, and Sharon Thomas, a Scottish. Tetsuhiko Kariya's parents, along with 23,000 other Japanese-Canadians, were deemed "enemy aliens" during World War II. He later played rugby for the University of British Columbia.

Related Topics:
Sansei - World War II - University of British Columbia

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An outstanding amateur, Kariya scored 91 goals and 153 assists for 244 points in 94 games in high school. He was the first freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award - U.S. college hockey's premier individual honor - notching 25 goals and 75 assists for 100 points in 39 games, helping the University of Maine to a 42-1-2 record, and the 1993 NCAA and Hockey East titles in his only full season. His brother, Steven, captained Maine to the 1999 NCAA title. Their brother, Martin, helped Maine get to the 2002 "Frozen Four" finals.

Related Topics:
Hobey Baker Award - University of Maine - NCAA - Hockey East - Frozen Four

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His miss in a shootout with Sweden cost Canada the 1994 Olympic gold medal, but he helped Canada win gold in the 2002 Winter Olympics. He was picked by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 4th overall in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft and plays left wing.

Related Topics:
Sweden - 2002 Winter Olympics - Mighty Ducks of Anaheim - 1993 NHL Entry Draft - Left wing

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He had a career year in 1995-96, scoring 50 goals and 58 assists for 108 points. In 2003, he lead the Ducks to their first Stanley Cup finals.

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Paul missed the 1998 Winter Olympics due to a concussion suffered from an on-ice crosscheck by Gary Suter. That was the first time that professional players could compete in the Olympics and many saw Suter's hit as the worst of a series of alleged attempts by US Olympic players to injure their Canadian rivals. Suter's 4-game suspension and being allowed to compete in Nagano outraged many Canadian fans (although Team USA fared poorly in the tournament and became infamous for wrecking their hotel room before leaving). Kariya was widely considered the best player on Team Canada. This greatly disappointed Japanese fans who were hoping for a vicarious thrill and medal chance.

Related Topics:
1998 Winter Olympics - Gary Suter - Disappointed

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In a move that sent shock waves through the NHL, Kariya and ex-teammate Teemu Selänne signed with the Colorado Avalanche on July 3, 2003 for much less than their value. This pairing was suppose to make Colorado contenders for the Stanley Cup for the upcoming season, after the retirement of legendary Patrick Roy. However, Kariya and Selänne did not live up to expectations, due to Kariya's injury and Selänne being inexplicably assigned to defensive duty, and Colorado did not re-sign them.

Related Topics:
Teemu Selänne - Colorado Avalanche - July 3 - 2003 - Patrick Roy

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Paul also has two younger brothers: Steve and Martin, who are also professional ice hockey players. His sister Noriko is a professional boxer.

Related Topics:
Steve - Martin - Ice hockey - Noriko - Professional - Boxer

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He signed with the Nashville Predators on August 5, 2005, as an unrestricted free agent for a two year contract.

Related Topics:
Nashville Predators - August 5 - 2005 - Unrestricted free agent

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