Ducks Share Memories of Kariya Before Special Day at Honda Center
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Around here he's an original Mighty Duck. He's the player who put the franchise on the map. For Ducks fans, he was their first bonafide superstar. Beloved by so many, Kariya's #9 jersey will be raised to the rafters later today in what figures to be an emotional ceremony prior to the Sabres-Ducks game at Honda Center. Kariya will join his best friend - Teemu Selanne - as the only two players to have their numbers retired by the Ducks.
Fans are encouraged to be in their seats by 3:15 p.m. to see the ceremony featuring some of the greatest names from Ducks history like Selanne, Scott Niedermayer and Steve Rucchin.
Ask any Ducks fan, and chances are they have a special memory or two of Kariya. The same applies inside Ducks the locker room, where Kariya's legacy is still as strong as ever.
"Paul did a lot of great things in his career," said Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf. "He was an outstanding hockey player and a great ambassador for the game for many years. It's building history within our organization that hasn't been here before. Now we're at the stage where we have guys who have left their mark on the game and this organization for years to come. Paul was an original draft pick who did a lot of great things for this team."
Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle recalls Kariya's unorthodox path to the NHL. "He came through a different route. He came through the college route and then went to the Canadian Olympic hockey club," he said. "When he came on, he came on with a bang. Talented player who can play the game at a very high place. He was able to find a niche here with Selanne. Strong one-two punch. Played through some really tough times with injuries. He pushed himself through it and found a way to have a Hall-of-Fame career."
Selected by Anaheim in the first round (fourth overall) of the 1993 NHL Draft, Kariya scored 669 points (300g/369a) with a +52 rating and 213 penalty minutes in 606 career games with the Mighty Ducks. Among franchise leaders, Kariya leads in points-per-game (1.10), ranks second in power-play goals (107) and third in scoring, goals and assists. A two-time Lady Byng Memorial Trophy winner in 1996 and 1997, he went on to lead Anaheim to Game 7 of the 2003 Stanley Cup Final against New Jersey, recorded 100-point seasons in 1995-96 and 1998-98 and recorded a 50-goal season in 1995-96.
His impact was even felt in Sweden, according to Hampus Lindholm, who celebrated his first birthday on the day Kariya made his NHL debut (Jan. 20, 1995). "You've seen all the highlights of him," said Lindholm, now 24. "He was one hell of a player. It's going to be really fun to see his jersey get put up in [the rafters]."
Rookie center Sam Steel used the term 'legendary' to describe Kariya's game. Like Lindholm, the Sherwood Park, Alberta native is excited to see Kariya's banner ceremony. "It'll be cool to be a part of that and see his jersey go up in the rafters," said Steel. "Everything he did was pretty remarkable. He's one of those players they still talk about. He's a key part of history."
But it could be argued that the player he has had the greatest impact on is rookie forward Kiefer Sherwood, who, like Kariya, is half Japanese. "He was inspirational and motivational," said the 23-year-old Columbus, Ohio native. "There weren't many Japanese players in the NHL, but to see one who excelled and brought forth a new movement and energy was pretty cool. I looked up to him when I was younger. Try to model my game off things he did on the ice and off the ice. He was really professional and classy."
Sherwood then took a few seconds to try to put into words what it will be like to see Kariya's jersey raised to the rafters. "It will be pretty special, and something I'll always remember," he said. "In my eyes, I looked up to him and tried to model my game off him. The way he carried himself. He commanded so much respect for who he was and what he brought on the ice."
