DUCKS' KARIYA ON PINS AND NEEDLES; ACUPUNCTURE PROVIDES THE ANTIDOTE FOR HEADACHES.

Byline: Beth Harris Associated Press 

The headaches are gone and his dark eyes are clear. Paul Kariya can recall what he did yesterday, last week and a few months ago.

The concussion that ended his season 28 games early and forced him to miss the 1998 Olympics in Nagano is just a memory, one he's eager to replace with the type of play that made him the Anaheim Mighty Ducks' career scoring leader in his first four NHL seasons.

He's grateful to have his health back and appreciates the expression that if you've got your health, you have everything.

``It was a cliche before, but now I realize what it means,'' he said.

Kariya was off the ice for seven months after being cross-checked in the head by Gary Suter in a game against Chicago on Feb. 1. In the weeks that followed his head pounded, his eyes glazed over and he had trouble remembering.

``It was scary. It was like he wasn't really there,'' teammate and close friend Teemu Selanne said. ``It was really tough to watch him. I tried to help him and make him feel better.''

Kariya's family didn't care if he ever played hockey again. During the darkest days, he wondered if playing again would ever be possible.``There were times when I thought about doing something else,'' he said. ``I don't know what I would've done. It's been my life for the last five or six years, and I want that to continue for a long time.''

Soon after his injury, Kariya spoke to Pat LaFontaine, who retired from the New York Rangers last summer after his sixth concussion. LaFontaine had battled the same symptoms - headaches, fatigue, depression, sleepless nights. He reassured Kariya a comeback was possible. And Philadelphia's Eric Lindros recommended acupuncture, which helped his brother, Brett, recover from post-concussion syndrome.

``I tried that, and it really helped clear the symptoms up,'' Kariya said.

By May, the headaches were gone and his memory was back. In August, doctors cleared Kariya to return to hockey.

``You learn from everything that happens in life. It's not like it was a total disaster,'' he said. ``To be able to come back and play the game is a great feeling.''

Kariya has changed some of his equipment since the concussion. When the Ducks open the season Oct. 10 in Washington, the foam padding in his helmet will be 25 percent thicker and have a strap that runs from the back of his head and under his chin. The strap will be pulled tight, instead of flapping under the chin the way many players prefer it. He'll wear a mouthguard with extra cushioning for his back teeth to protect him from jaw-rattling checks.

Suter, who now plays for San Jose, was suspended for four games and fined $1,000 for the cross-check. Kariya says the NHL should severely punish players who go after an opponent's head.

``If the league starts handing out longer suspensions and bigger fines, maybe that type of hit will be out of the game,'' he said.

Kariya, who turns 24 this month, said he took some shots on his head in exhibition games and felt fine. ``I don't have any fear at all,'' he said.

His numbers can only increase from the career-low 17 goals and 14 assists he had in 22 games last season. Anaheim fans didn't see much of Kariya even before the injury because he missed the first 32 games in a contract holdout.

Kariya's absence put pressure on Selanne, who became the fourth player in NHL history to score at least 25 percent of his team's goals in a season. Opponents keyed their defense on Selanne, knowing he couldn't pass to Kariya.

``It was a lot of load I had to carry. It was challenging and I made it through, so that makes me feel good, but I still don't want to go through that again,'' Selanne said.

Kariya and Selanne became teammates in February 1996. The Ducks have a record of 57-41-17 in the 115 games they've played with both in the lineup. Kariya scored 79 goals and Selanne 75 in those games.

``I know exactly what he's doing and he knows what my next move is going to be,'' Selanne said. ``That way we can be one step ahead of everybody else. That's our role.''

As a rookie, Kariya was extremely shy. He's still a quiet, serious person, while Selanne's engaging smile and playfulness loosens up everyone he meets.

``Our agent always said if I can be more sharp and more serious and Paul can be more loose, we'll be a perfect couple on the ice and off,'' Selanne said. ``Paul has changed a lot. He's really starting to enjoy life and do the things that he likes to do. That's the only way to survive.''

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Photo

Photo: Ducks star Paul Kariya is thankful for acupuncture, recommended by Philadelphia's Eric Lindros because it helped his brother, Brett, recover from post-concussion syndrome.

Michael Caulfield/Associated Press