Jordin Tootoo

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Position Right Wing
Shoots Right
Nickname(s) The TooToo Train[1]
Height
Weight		 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
194 lb (88 kg/13 st 12 lb)
NHL Team Nashville Predators
Nationality Flag of Canada Canada
Born February 2, 1983 (1983-02-02) (age 25),
Churchill, MB, CAN
NHL Draft 98th overall, 2001
Nashville Predators
Pro career 2003 – present

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".[2]

His mother, Rose Tootoo, is of Ukrainian Canadian descent, while his father, Barney, is an Inuk from Nunavut.[3] 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,[4] where he was taught to skate and play hockey by his father, Barney.[5] Growing up in Rankin Inlet also allowed Tootoo to learn the traditional Inuit lifestyle that includes hunting and camping.[6]

As the first Inuk[6] to play in the National Hockey League he has become a role model for youth in Nunavut.[7]

Contents

[edit] 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.[6]

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. Tootoo also has gotten 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.[8]

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.

[edit] 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.[4]

[edit] 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
WHL totals 220 93 116 209 874 39 12 10 22 125
NHL totals 232 22 23 45 458 12 0 1 1 25

[edit] International play

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

[edit] 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.[9] Tootoo dated country music star Kellie Pickler briefly in 2007.[10]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Heads are turning from the Nunatsiaq News
  2. ^ kalluk. Asuilaak Living Dictionary. Retrieved on 2007-11-17.
  3. ^ The New York TImes - HOCKEY; It's a Long Way Down to Nashville
  4. ^ a b National Aboriginal Achievement Awards
  5. ^ nativehockey.com
  6. ^ a b c Number 22 is number one with Nunavummiut from the Nunatsiaq News
  7. ^ Poster Takes Jordin Tootoo Inspiration Beyond Hockey
  8. ^ Head-hunter pays the price. TSN. Retrieved on 2007-10-12.
  9. ^ Rankin Inlet hockey player found dead in Manitoba
  10. ^ Nunavut hockey star introduces American Idol girlfriend to family

[edit] External links


Persondata
NAME Tootoo, Jordin
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION
DATE OF BIRTH 1983-2-2
PLACE OF BIRTH Churchill, MB, CAN
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH