Martin Kariya Martin Tetsuya Kariya ( born October 5 , 1981 in Vancouver , British Columbia ) is a professional ice hockey right winger for HC Ambri - Piotta of the Swiss Hockey League . 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 . 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 arguably the best forward in the league . Having had so much success in Europe , Martin then signed his first NHL contract with the St . Louis Blues on June 1 , 2007 , for the following 2007 – 08 season . On October 1 , 2007 , Kariya was among the final cuts as he was assigned to affiliate , the Peoria Rivermen . 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 . In the 2009 – 10 season , Martin established himself as an integral part of Riga ' s offense scoring 22 points in 38 games . 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 . 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 . On May 3 , 2010 , Kariya returned to the NLA , signing a two - year contract with HC Ambri - Piotta . International play . Kariya has had several opportunities to represent Canada in international ice hockey competition . These include the 2005 Loto Cup , the 2005 , 2008 and 2010 Spengler Cup , the 2006 Deutschland Cup and the 2007 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships in Moscow . Personal . Martin is the younger brother of Steve and Noriko and the famous Paul Kariya . He is of Japanese and Scottish descent .