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Thursday, February 24, 2000
Kariya's got something to prove
ANAHEIM, Calif. (CP) -- After proving he can be a big man in the minor leagues, Vancouver Canucks winger Steve Kariya hopes to raise his stature in the NHL.
Kariya returned to the Canucks lineup Wednesday against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks after a stint with the Syracuse Crunch, Vancouver's AHL affiliate. In 10 games in Syracuse he had 11 goals and five assists, plus set a club record with four goals in a Feb. 18 game.
Kariya's second incarnation with the Canucks started badly. He was called for two first-period penalties, both resulting in Duck power-play goals.
"I didn't get off to a good start," Kariya sighed after the Canucks rallied to keep their four-game unbeaten streak, and slim playoff hopes alive, with a 4-4 tie against the Ducks.
"It wasn't a good feeling."
The diminutive left-winger was an instant fan favourite in Vancouver when he finished tied for second in the NHL's pre-season scoring with 10 points, including two goals, in six games.
He notched his first NHL goal in the third game of the season against Montreal. But as his effectiveness diminished, so did his ice time. By Christmas, he was playing six minutes or less a game or watching from the press box.
The ticket to Syracuse came Jan. 28 after going 15 games without a goal.
"I think it was the best thing at the time," said Kariya, 22, who has eight goals and 11 assists in 44 games with Vancouver.
"It was good to go down and get some confidence and play a lot. You miss out when you're not playing a whole lot and getting scratched at times."
He admitted it was hard to keep his confidence as his ice time dwindled.
"You certainly don't have anything to be confident about when you're getting scratched and when you do play, you only play five or seven minutes," said the North Vancouver, B.C., resident.
"I don't think I lost my confidence but at the same time it's hard to be feeling good about yourself and your game."
Kariya, mostly playing on a line with Andrew Cassels and Harry York, got 9:42 in ice time on 14 shifts against Anaheim. He wasn't credited with a shot on net but did ring a puck off the post in the second period.
"I thought Steve was decent," said coach Marc Crawford, who shortened his bench in the third period.
"He showed good poise with the puck. Towards the end, when it was close, we went with a couple of different people."
Kariya's first penalty, a hooking call with the game 40 seconds old, came when defenceman Ed Jovanovski got caught up ice on a bad pinch. Kariya had no choice but to haul a Duck down.
Crawford was more frustrated on Kariya's second foul, a high-sticking call.
"He can't take that one," Crawford snapped.
Listed generously at five-foot-seven and 170 pounds, Kariya has spent most of his career playing in the shadows of his older brother Paul, a Ducks superstar. The Anaheim game program had a front-page picture of the brothers and an inside story on the siblings.
Kariya spent four years at the University of Maine, leading the Black Bears to an NCAA championship and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey's best player. But his size scared off NHL scouts.
The Canucks signed him as a free agent, giving him a three-year deal at $535,000 US a season.
Short-staffed due to injuries, and desperate to make the playoffs for the first time in four years, the Canucks are battling for their lives. How much Kariya can contribute to the stretch drive remains to be seen.
"Every game is so important," he said.
"You try to do what ever you're asked and do the best job you can."
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