ORONO – Former University of Maine star Paul Kariya has played in four NHL All-Star games, he is a two-time winner of the Lady Byng Trophy awarded to the player who exhibits the best sportsmanship and he has played in the Winter Olympics.

But the Anaheim Mighty Ducks’ all-time leader in goals (243), assists (288) and points (531) said having his number nine retired by the school “is one of the biggest individual honors I’ve ever received.

“It has never happened to me before. I’ve never had a jersey retired,” said the 26-year-old Kariya, who has played in 442 regular season games for the Ducks during his seven-year NHL career.

“The year and a half I spent at Maine was the most fun I’ve had. It was the last time you are really on the same level with everybody else. Once you turn pro, it’s different. You don’t have the close relationships that you have in college. It was a special time for me,” Kariya added.

Later, during the ceremony to retire his number between periods of the alumni hockey game at Alfond Arena, Kariya gave a gracious acceptance speech.

He said winning the national championship in 1993 “was one of the biggest achievements I’ve had but more important than that, it was great to be a student here. I enjoyed college life. I had a wonderful time.”

He said that 42-1-2 team “the most talented I’ve ever been a part of” and thanked his teammates for “making me look better than I was.”

Kariya had 25 goals and 75 assists in 39 games to become the first and only freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award (given to college hockey’s top player) in 1992-93. He then notched eight goals and 16 assists in 12 games his sophomore year before leaving to join the Canadian Olympic team.

He also thanked the university for giving him the opportunity to attend school in Orono, the coaching staff, and the people in the community for their support and said Orono has served as a “home away from home” for himself, brothers Steve and Marty and sister Noriko.

Steve was an All-American and Hobey Baker Award finalist who led Maine to the 1999 national championship; Noriko was an All-America East field hockey player and Marty was Maine’s leading scorer this past season and will be a junior in the fall.

“In the next two years, Marty will help bring Maine another nation al championship,” said Kariya in closing.

Paul Kariya is looking forward to the upcoming season, especially now that the Ducks have obtained former Black Bear defenseman Keith Carney in a trade with the Phoenix Coyotes.

“Getting Keith will help us out a lot. He’s exactly what we need and it’s great having another Maine guy on the team,” said Kariya. “We have a young team with a lot of good, talented players. It will be a matter of if they develop or not.

“Having a veteran guy like Keith, especially a defenseman, is going to help us. He’ll play 25-26 minutes a game,” Kariya added.

The 31-year-old Carney has only missed three games over the last six seasons with Chicago and Phoenix.

He had two goals and 14 assists in 82 games last season.

Kariya, who had 33 goals and 34 assists in 66 games this past season, said he was “frustrated” by the Ducks’ inability to make the playoffs.

“I’d like to be in the playoffs every year and make a run at [the Stanley Cup],” said Kariya, who has been satisfied with his career to date.

“It has gone by really quickly so I must be enjoying myself,” said Kariya, who has suffered more than his share of injuries including concussions and a broken bone in his foot.

“I’ve had a lot of injuries the last couple of years so I’m trying to get my skating back to where it has been. It hasn’t been to my liking. I’ve lost a little leg drive due to the injuries. But I’ve been rehabbing hard, I’ve been hitting the weights hard, trying go get the legs going again. I’ve got to get my skating back. I’ve been trying to produce offense without my greatest weapon: my speed. Hopefully, I’ll be 100 percent when I hit training camp,” added the 5-foot-10, 172-pound native of North Vancouver, British Columbia.