From watching the 1988 Winter Olympics in his home province to playing in the 1998 Winter Olympics with the host team, the hockey experiences of a three time CCAA individual award recipient went full circle more than once.

Matt Kabayama joined Calgary's Mount Royal College Cougars after playing two seasons in Germany. In 1988, he was selected as CCAA Tournament MVP after the Cougars won their first of four national titles. In 1989, he was honoured as a CCAA All Canadian and a CCAA Tournament All Star as the Cougars placed fifth at nationals.

Following three seasons with the University of Calgary Dinos, the forward played professionally for 11 seasons in Japan.  During that span, Kabayama scored one goal in four games for Japan as the host team placed 13th in 1998 at the Winter Olympics in Nagano.

The Foremost, Alberta native's ice exploits was bookended by stints in the Western Hockey League.  He wore a Medicine Hat Tigers jersey for four seasons starting with the 1981-82 campaign. He was a member of the Lethbridge Hurricanes coaching staff for seven seasons ending with the 2012-13 campaign.

Kabayama was one of at least six CCAA players to participate in men's hockey at the Winter Olympics.

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