CANUCKS' STEVE KARIYA SHIPPED BACK TO MINORS
 
(AP) - Steve Kariya's return to the NHL lasted only two games.
The Vancouver Canucks shipped the left winger back to Syracuse of
the AHL on Thursday, along with winger Josh Holden. Kariya, 22,
returned to the Canucks on Feb. 23 after a month with Syracuse.
The younger brother of Paul Kariya went pointless in two games
with the Canucks. In 10 games in Syracuse last month he had 11
goals and five assists, setting a club record with four goals in
a game on Feb. 18. The Canucks signed Kariya as a free agent last
summer, giving him a three-year deal at $535,000 a season. Kariya
had 10 points in exhibition games, second on the team, and scored
his first NHL goal in the third game of the season against
Montreal. But his effectiveness diminished, as did his ice time,
and by Christmas, he was playing six minutes or less a game. He
has eight goals and 11 assists in 45 games with Vancouver.