Terence Tootoo

Jordin Tootoo

Jordin John Kudluk Tootoo (Inuktitut syllabics: ᔪᐊᑕᓐ ᑐᑐ; born February 2, 1983 in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada) is a professional ice hockey player with the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League. His middle name Kudluk (kalluk in standard Roman spelling) means "thunder".

His mother, Rose Tootoo, is of Ukrainian Canadian descent, while his father, Barney, is an Inuk from Nunavut. He is also the nephew of Manitoba Legislative Assembly Speaker George Hickes and cousin to Nunavut MLA Hunter Tootoo.

Although born in Manitoba, Tootoo grew up in Rankin Inlet, where he was taught to skate and play hockey by his father, Barney. Growing up in Rankin Inlet also allowed Tootoo to learn the traditional Inuit lifestyle that includes hunting and camping.

As the first Inuk to play in the National Hockey League he has become a role model for youth in Nunavut.

Playing career

Jordin Tootoo played for the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League from 1999 to 2003 and was selected 98th overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft as the 6th choice of the Nashville Predators.

He became the first player of Inuit descent to play in a regular season NHL game when he suited up against the Anaheim Ducks on opening night October 9, 2003. He was also the first person of Inuit descent to be drafted by an NHL team. Jordin wears the number '22' as a play on words of his name.

He got his first NHL point with an assist on a Dan Hamhuis goal against the St. Louis Blues on October 16, 2003 and scored his first NHL goal against the Atlanta Thrashers on October 23, 2003. Also, Tootoo has earned two "Gordie Howe hat tricks" on January 10, 2004, and December 8, 2007 when he notched a goal, an assist, and a fighting major in each game.

He spent the 2005-06 season between the Nashville Predators and the Predators' minor league affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, where he played during the 2004-05 NHL lockout. On July 21, 2006 he was re-signed by the Predators to a two-year contract. On January 31 2008, Jordin was re-signed to another two-year contract extension.

On March 19, 2007, the NHL suspended Tootoo for five games. Tootoo punched defenseman Stephane Robidas of the Dallas Stars with his glove on during the Stars game against Nashville on March 17. Robidas suffered a concussion and was rendered unconscious. The NHL issued a five game suspension without pay, and accusations of "dirty" play have been leveled at Tootoo. These accusations were resurrected after an incident on October 11, 2007, in which Tootoo hit the head of Daniel Winnik, of the Phoenix Coyotes, with his shoulder.

He scored his first playoff goal on April 10 2008 against the Detroit Red Wings in the second period of Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarter Finals in a 3-1 loss.

Awards

Rookie of the Year, Most Popular Player, and Scholastic Player of the Year honors with the OCN Blizzard in 1998-99.
Nominated as Manitoba's Sportsman of the Year for 2000.
WHL Player of the Month for December, 2001.
WHL Player of the Week for the week of December 23-30, 2001.
Played in the 2001 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.
Hardest shot in the 2001 Top Prospects Skills Evaluation (96.1 mph).
WHL Player of the Week for the week of November 11-17, 2002.
National Aboriginal Achievement Awards, 2002 Youth Award.

Career statistics

			Regular season					Playoffs
Season	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1999–00	Brandon Wheat Kings	WHL	45	6	10	16	214	—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Brandon Wheat Kings	WHL	60	20	28	48	172	6	2	4	6	18
2001–02	Brandon Wheat Kings	WHL	64	32	39	71	272	16	4	3	7	58
2002–03	Brandon Wheat Kings	WHL	51	35	39	74	216	17	6	3	9	49
2003–04	Nashville Predators	NHL	70	4	4	8	137	5	0	0	0	4
2004–05	Milwaukee Admirals	AHL	59	10	12	22	266	6	0	0	0	41
2005–06	Nashville Predators	NHL	34	4	6	10	55	3	0	0	0	0
2005–06	Milwaukee Admirals	AHL	41	13	14	27	133	15	9	2	11	35
2006–07	Nashville Predators	NHL	65	3	6	9	116	4	0	1	1	21
2007–08	Nashville Predators	NHL	63	11	7	18	100	6	2	0	2	4
WHL totals			220	93	116	209	874	39	12	10	22	125
NHL totals			232	22	23	45	408	18	2	1	3	29

International play

Member of Team West in the under-17 2000 World Hockey Challenge.
Was the captain of Canada's under-18 team at the 2000 Four Nations tournament, winning a gold medal.
Helped Team Canada win silver at the 2003 IIHF World U-20 Hockey Championship.

International Statistics

Year	Team	Event	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2000	Team Canada	Four Nat	3	2	0	2	10
2003	Team Canada	WJC	6	2	1	3	4

Personal life

Tootoo's older brother, Terence Tootoo, was also a hockey player. Terence played for the Roanoke Express of the ECHL in the 2001-02 season, after a successful junior career with the OCN Blizzard, and was named the Express' Rookie of the Year. In August 2002, Terence committed suicide at the age of 22, in the wake of an arrest for drunk driving.

Jordin Tootoo briefly dated American Idol music star Kellie Pickler in 2007.