Martin Kariya

Martin Kariya
Kariya with the Peoria Rivermen in 2007
Born	(1981-10-05) October 5, 1981 (age 42) Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight	175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb)
Position	Forward
Shot	Right
NLA team Former teams	HC Ambri-Piotta SCL Tigers AHL Portland Pirates Bridgeport Sound Tigers Peoria Rivermen SM-l Espoo Blues KHL Dinamo Riga
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	Undrafted
Playing career	2003–2012

Martin Tetsuya Kariya (born October 5, 1981) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger. He is the youngest brother of former NHL players Paul Kariya and Steve Kariya.

Playing career

Amateur

Kariya had a standout NCAA college hockey career at the University of Maine from 1999 to 2003 while earning a degree in Mathematics. During his four years at the University of Maine, the team made 2 Frozen Four appearances. In Martin's junior college season the Black Bears reached the 2001–02 NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship final game where they suffered a disappointing 4-3 OT loss to the University of Minnesota. Martin was the captain of the team in his senior year and was also the top scorer with 50 points in 39 games. Martin was awarded the Len Ceglarski Sportsmanship Award and named to Hockey East First All-Star Team. He finished his Black Bear career 11th in all-time scoring with 155 points and was subsequently named in Maine's All Decade Team. ^[1]

Professional

Kariya's outstanding college hockey career caught the attention of the Portland Pirates of the AHL, who offered him a contract to join their team for the 2002–03 playoffs. On July 22, 2003, Martin then signed with the New York Islanders affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers for the 2003–04 season.

The 2004 NHL Lockout was a bump in the road for Kariya. Rather than waiting for the NHL season to resume, Martin headed to Japan to play for the Nikko IceBucks in the Asian Hockey League where he was a favorite with Japanese hockey fans. Next he played in Fredrikstad Norway for Stjernen HC and recorded 52 points in 39 games. This caught the attention of hockey scouts from Europe's top leagues and led to Martin signing with the Espoo Blues of the Finnish SM-liiga for the 2006-2007 season. Martin's speed and skill helped him to dominate the Finnish league. He was the top scorer with 61 points in 51 games and was considered the best forward in the league that season.

After his great success in Europe, Martin signed his first NHL contract with the St. Louis Blues on June 1, 2007, for the following 2007–08 season. ^[2] On October 1, 2007, Kariya was among the final cuts as he was assigned to affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen. ^[3] Kariya enjoyed his most successful season in the AHL recording 53 points in 71 games.

For the 2008–09 season he returned to Europe to play in the lucrative Swiss League where he finished 5th in the league's scoring standings and was a key player for the SCL Tigers. On July 15, 2009, Kariya signed with the Dinamo Riga of the KHL. ^[4] In the 2009–10 season, Martin established himself as an integral part of Riga's offense scoring 22 points in 38 games. ^[5] Kariya was limited to 38 games after suffering a well publicized concussion in which the KHL was criticized over the immediate medical protocol to his condition. ^[6] Upon his return, Kariya helped Riga past the first round in the playoffs, leading the KHL with 5 points in 4 games against SKA St. Petersburg after the first round. ^[7]

On May 3, 2010, Kariya returned to the NLA, signing a two-year contract with HC Ambri-Piotta. ^[8]

International play

Kariya has had several opportunities to represent Canada in international ice hockey competition. These include the 2005 Loto Cup, the 2005 Spengler Cup, the 2006 Deutschland Cup, the 2008 Spengler Cup and the 2010 Spengler Cup.

Awards and honors

Award	Year
All-Hockey East First Team	2002–03

• 2002–03 HE Len Ceglarski Sportsmanship Award
• 2006–07 SM-Liiga Veli-Pekka Ketola trophy

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1997–98	Victoria Salsa	BCHL		55	7	9	16	6		—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Victoria Salsa	BCHL		59	25	80	105	14		8	1	8	9	4
1999–2000	University of Maine	HE		35	8	17	25	6		—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	University of Maine	HE		39	12	24	36	10		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	University of Maine	HE		43	16	28	44	14		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	University of Maine	HE		39	14	36	50	6		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Portland Pirates	AHL		—	—	—	—	—		3	0	0	0	0
2003–04	Bridgeport Sound Tigers	AHL		70	8	17	25	16		7	0	1	1	2
2004–05	Nikkō Ice Bucks	ALH		15	6	12	18	20		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Stjernen Fredrikstad	NOR		39	15	37	52	49		11	3	10	13	8
2006–07	Blues	SM-l		51	18	43	61	58		9	0	5	5	4
2007–08	Peoria Rivermen	AHL		71	16	37	53	29		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	SCL Tigers	NLA		50	15	43	58	22		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Dinamo Riga	KHL		38	4	18	22	16		9	3	2	5	2
2010–11	HC Ambrì–Piotta	NLA		38	5	21	26	8		—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	HC Ambrì–Piotta	NLA		14	5	7	12	2		—	—	—	—	—
AHL totals				141	24	54	78	45		10	0	1	1	2
KHL totals				38	4	18	22	16		9	3	2	5	2

Personal

Martin is the younger brother of Steve, Noriko, and Paul Kariya. He is of Japanese and Scottish descent.

References

1. "Maine announces All-Decade Team". University of Maine. March 6, 2010. Archived from the original on November 11, 2012. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
2. "Blues sign five prospects". St. Louis Blues. June 1, 2007. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
3. "Blues reduce roster to 26 players". St. Louis Blues. October 1, 2007. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
4. "Martin Kariya takes his show to Riga". Hockeysverige. July 15, 2009. Archived from the original on August 4, 2012. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
5. "Catching up with Martin Kariya". Baltic Reports. December 1, 2009. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
6. "Another serious injury raises more questions in KHL". The Hockey News . September 21, 2009. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
7. "Riga Dinamo forward Kariya becomes scoring leader in playoffs". Baltic course. March 16, 2010. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
8. "HCAP recruits foreigners Karyia and Lehoux" (in Italian). HC Ambri-Piotta. May 3, 2010. Archived from the original on May 6, 2010. Retrieved May 3, 2010.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Eurohockey.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Jon DiSalvatore	Len Ceglarski Sportsmanship Award 2002–03	Succeeded by Steve Saviano
Preceded by Tony Salmelainen	Winner of the Veli-Pekka Ketola trophy 2006-07	Succeeded by Janne Pesonen