Steve Kariya Joins Coaching Staff For Remainder of Season

Press Release

Former NHL player Steve Kariya has joined the Portland Winterhawks’ coaching staff for the remainder of the 2012-13 season.

Kariya will oversee the team’s in-game video scouting, helping the coaching staff make adjustments between periods. He will also assist with players’ skill development at practices. The in-game video work had been done by assistant coach Kyle Gustafson, who moved to the bench when Travis Green took over as Acting Head Coach in November.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to join the Winterhawks’ coaching staff,” said Kariya. “This is a great organization with a chance to win a Memorial Cup, and I look forward to being part of an exciting playoff run.”

“Steve will be a great asset for us as we enter the final seven games of the regular season and the playoffs,” said Green. “We place a great deal of emphasis on our in-game video work and Steve’s long playing career gives him valuable insight into the game.”

Kariya starred at University of Maine from 1995-99, amassing 187 points in 150 games. He went on to a lengthy professional career that included 65 games with the Vancouver Canucks between 1999-2002. He later played six seasons in Europe before retiring after the 2009-10 season.

Kariya comes from a prolific hockey family- his older brother Paul played 15 seasons in the NHL with Anaheim, Colorado, Nashville and St Louis, with 989 points in 989 games. Paul also won the Hobey Baker Award at the University of Maine in 1993, awarded annually to the top collegiate player in the U.S. Steve’s younger brother Martin also played at the University of Maine, and went on to play professionally in Europe and the American Hockey League. 

(Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)