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Steve Kariya Press Conference from October 14, 1999
Question: When you were playing college hockey, even though your brother had been successful, did you ever stop believing that you had a chance to play in the NHL, given your size? Steve Kariya: Not really. I mean, I never looked at my size as a negative. I've always tried to use it as a positive. Just go out there, work hard, and do the best I can. I said, hopefully after four years of college, I'd be given an opportunity to prove myself by playing for a National Hockey League club. That opportunity came. I'm happy to sign with the Canucks and be a part of this organization. I always believed in my abilities. It was just a matter for me of really getting an opportunity. The Canucks have given me a great one. I just want to take advantage of it as best I can. Question: Even though I know Paul had a great time playing at Maine, it had been good to him, did you consider not going there? Always there's a comparison that's natural when two brothers play. To follow, directly, the route that Paul did, did you consider going a different route? Steve Kariya: Well, the three schools that it came down to were Maine, Wisconsin and Harvard. I looked at those schools very closely. I was definitely considering Harvard and Wisconsin. When I went to Maine, I fell in love with the whole school, the atmosphere. I think probably the biggest reason why I went to Maine was the coaching staff there. They were huge mentors in my four years there. It's probably the biggest reasons why I went there. It's a great school, a great place to play hockey and get your education. Question: What was the tougher adjustment, junior to University, or University to the pros? Steve Kariya: No question, I think the adjustment I'm making now is definitely the biggest. Junior to college was a big jump. Every jump is a big jump. It's obviously a lot better game every time you move up. But I would say when you make this jump to the best league in the world, obviously every player is good here. You really got to raise your level of play, try to adjust as quickly as possible. They're all big jumps. Question: Playing in Nanaimo with the Clippers, how did that help you with your future? You had a successful year here as the scoring leader. How did it help you? Steve Kariya: It was just another step. Going to the BC Junior League was a big step. Hopefully getting a college scholarship, that was my goal. I achieved that goal. I had a great time in Nanaimo. Gary Davidson was very good to me, one of the best coaches I've ever had. I learned a lot from him. I really enjoyed the town there. I had great billets there. It was a nice stepping stone to get me into college. Question: Have you been pleased with your start so far? What have you found to be the biggest adjustment in things that you will continue to need to work on? Steve Kariya: Well, I'm fairly pleased with my start. I've had some good shifts out there, some bad shifts and, likewise in games. I know I've got to stay patient and stay positive, just try to improve every day in practice, carry that out in the games. As far as what I've got to improve on, like I said, in college, you got to keep improving every aspect of your game. Up here everything happens quicker. From defensively or offensively, you just have to learn to react, to try to create room for yourself. It's been an adjustment, but hopefully I'll just keep working hard and get more comfortable as I go along. Question: You've been on a line with Mogilny and Cassels. How have they helped you? Steve Kariya: It's a dream come true to be able to play with guys as talented as that. It makes the transition a lot easier. With those guys, it's such a simple game. They see the ice so well, just their ability to create. I love playing with guys that are creative offensively, try different things. They're just unbelievable players. They've been a great help for me on the ice and off the ice. They're great people. I've enjoyed playing with them. Question: About Marty, your younger brother, starts his career on Saturday with Maine. Did you talk to him at all about what to expect at Maine? Steve Kariya: I talked to him a few days ago and wished him luck. He sounds pretty good, seems pretty pleased with how things are going. I just told him to go out there and have fun and play his own game. I had a chance to skate with him this summer. I mean, he sees the ice really well and is a great passer. I'm sure the Maine fans are going to love his style of play. He's just got to be patient. Just like I made that jump to another level, he's doing the same thing. He's going to have some ups-and-downs. He's got to learn and grow from it. I know looking back at what I did there, it's not the player you're going to be remembered for going in, you have four years there, four years to improve. I'm sure by the end of his career, he's going to be an outstanding player there. Question: I wanted to talk about the jump for you, Steve. What do you find as far as going up against NHL defensemen and goaltenders that would be different from what you faced in college? Steve Kariya: Well, defensemen, obviously -- I think we have big defensemen in hockey. I think they're the same size and weight. I think up here they're maybe a little stronger and definitely better hockey players. As far as the goaltending, I think that's probably the biggest thing that I've noticed. Every level I go up, the goaltending is much better. If you don't really pick your spot, they just move so quickly, cover so much net, I mean, you really have to shoot the puck hard. Not only that, but just get lots of opportunity. The more opportunities you get, the better chance you're going to have to score. I definitely found the goaltending up here is much, much better. Just got to keep working on your shots and keep trying to get as many chances as possible. Question: You and your two brothers are all known for your skills. Was there something in your early childhood when you began playing hockey, some organization you were in or a coach you had early on that helped you guys with developing those skills? Steve Kariya: We all, especially in minor hockey, had different coaches growing up. I can't really speak on either of my brothers' behalf. Every coach I've had contributed along the way. I had a lot of great coaches in minor hockey. They've all helped me, all the way up through junior and college. It's obviously very important to get good coaching at a young age. I definitely had that. Question: Have you noticed a difference in the intensity level between the pre-season when you racked up quite a few points to the regular season? Is it just taking it up another notch? Steve Kariya: Obviously when you get to the regular season, I mean, it's all NHL guys, for the most part proven veterans. Obviously every player out there is a good player. They're all NHLers. Obviously it's going to be a better competition, better pace. It's certainly what I expected. That's the way it has been. Question: Last night's game, one of the lowest crowds in GM Place history, only four games under your belt, yet you're receiving all this media attention. Is it a bit overwhelming for you? Steve Kariya: I don't know if I'm deserving of it. I've had to deal with it throughout my career. A lot of that is because my older brother is Paul, the last name, I've been through this a lot. So, no, it's not overwhelming. I'm used to it. I don't think too much more about it other than that. Question: Is it taking up too much of your time, all this media attention that you've been getting? Steve Kariya: Not really. I mean, if they want to talk to me for a couple minutes after practice or after a game, we're doing this now so I don't have to do it so much on the road or whatever. I guess that's part of the business. You know, you just have to get it done. Question: In last night's game in the second period, coach left you on the bench for about the second half of the second period and moved Todd up into the line. Was that just a move to put some more beef up in that line? How did you react to that? Steve Kariya: You have to ask coach what his decision making was. Obviously, I don't think I was playing that well last game. I thought I was forcing too many passes and trying to make something when more often than not nothing was there. That's one thing I learned from last night; sometimes you just have to hold your cards and chip it by. Sometimes it's a better play. I had a couple long shifts there. Obviously, the team really wants to have short shifts and get everyone on the ice. For that reason more than anything else. I guess you can ask him. As far as reaction, that's not the first time I've been benched. I was benched last year as the senior captain in college. I mean, that happens to everyone. You just try to turn it into a positive, try to go out there and make the most of your next opportunity. Question: Do you sometimes think your line tries to get a little too fancy with the passes instead of maybe just sometimes taking the shot, not you in particular, but maybe you three might have to start shooting more instead of always trying to make the perfect pass? Steve Kariya: Yeah, definitely. Think we've been getting better at that; shooting more pucks. I think we're certainly getting a lot of opportunities when we're out there together. Alex and Cass played another great game last night. Definitely I know the other guys will make a conscious effort to shoot more. That's one of the goals of our team is to get pucks to the net, get a lot of chances there. Everyone is trying to do that, not just our line, but definitely we have to get keep getting more shots. Question: I was talking with your sister. She was telling me that Paul was trying to get regular updates. She had to call every day to say how you did in games. She also had to fax copies of articles about you. Obviously he's very proud of you. I was wondering, what role did he play and if you felt that over the summer? Steve Kariya: I've always said he's been a great help to me. Had some great coaching along the way, too. He's probably been one of my best coaches. He knows the game so well. I think he has a good handle on what it takes to play in this league. He's tried to teach me that as much as possible this summer. Like any other brother, I always want to know how he's doing, how he's playing, and vice versa. I think that's just being brothers or whatever. It's definitely been a big help for me. Question: Is there something specific that he said to you this summer? He told me that he's learned a lot of things the hard way and that you're going to benefit from some of his knowledge. I was wondering if there's anything that he specifically told you to be prepared for when you entered the NHL? Steve Kariya: The biggest thing he just told me was that I'm going to have a lot of highs and lows this year. I remember his first year. As great of a player as he was, he had some difficult times. That's definitely been the same case for me. You've just got to persevere through it, work hard. He's definitely told me to be prepared for that. Everyone wants a season of all highs, but even the best players go through lows. You just got to keep working hard and persevere. Question: Talk a little bit about what it's like to play with Mark Messier. Steve Kariya: It's a great honor for me. Growing up as a kid, you always watched him with the Oilers and the Rangers. He's been one of the best players of all time. For me, I just try to learn as much as I can from him. He always has a few helpful hints every week for on and off the ice. He's a great captain, a great leader. Something that I'll look back on and say when I'm done playing hockey that I had an opportunity to play with him. He's just a great guy, a great player. He still carries the play out there and is a dominant force. Question: If I'm not mistaken on the schedule, you're playing Anaheim on December 8. How much are you looking forward to that game? Steve Kariya: I haven't thought about that game at all. I'm just kind of taking everything one day at a time, trying to establish myself as a player in this league. I mean, I haven't thought about that at all. When that day comes, I'll be happy to answer any questions. For me right now, it's just too far down the road. Question: When was the last time you would have played against Paul in any kind of competitive game? Steve Kariya: I've never played against him. He's three years older than me. We never played. If we were closer, I'm sure we would have been teammates in minor hockey. Actually would have been a teammate in Maine if he played all of his four years. He was gone after a year and a half. I never played against him.
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