Paul Kariya - Personal Life

Personal Life

Kariya was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, to parents Tetsuhiko and Sharon Kariya. His father, a Japanese-Canadian born in a World War II internment camp, worked as a math teacher. Tetsuhiko died from a heart attack suffered on December 27, 2002. Kariya's mother, a Scottish-Canadian, was also a teacher. Coming from an athletic family, his father played rugby with the Canadian national team. Kariya is one of four siblings that play professional sports. Brothers Steve and Martin are also hockey players. His sister, Noriko, played hockey, as well, before turning to boxing.

As a teenager, Kariya worked for a summer in construction. At age 16, he left home to play Junior A hockey in Penticton, British Columbia, where he also worked at a clothing store that belonged to the team's coach and general manager. Two years later, he enrolled at the University of Maine to join the school's hockey team and was a dean's list student. During his rookie NHL season, Kariya lived in the Anaheim area with a family that was close friend with Mighty Ducks head coach Ron Wilson. Following his departure from the Ducks in 2003, he maintained a summer home in Orange County, California. With a background in competitive swimming as a child, he became an avid surfer in the area.

As captain of the Mighty Ducks, Kariya made a cameo appearance in Disney's D3: The Mighty Ducks movie, which was released in October 1996.