| Jordin Tootoo | |
|---|---|
Tootoo playing for the Nashville Predators in 2010 |
|
| Born | February 2, 1983 Churchill, Manitoba, Canada |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Weight | 210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb) |
| Position | Right wing |
| Shoots | Right |
| NHL team | Nashville Predators |
| NHL Draft | 98th overall, 2001 Nashville Predators |
| Playing career | 2003–present |
Jordin John Kudluk Tootoo (Inuktitut: ᔪᐊᑕᓐ ᑐᑐ[1] Juatan Jaan Katluk Tutu; born February 2, 1983) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player with the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is both the first Inuk player and the first player who grew up in Nunavut to participate in an NHL game.[2]
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Tootoo played Bantam AA hockey in Spruce Grove, Alberta. The Brandon Wheat Kings selected him in the 3rd round of the 1998 WHL Bantam Draft. Tootoo played for the Wheat Kings in the Western Hockey League (WHL) from 1999 to 2003 and was selected 98th overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft as the sixth 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 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim on Opening Night October 9, 2003. He was also the first person of Inuit descent to be drafted by an NHL team. Tootoo wears the number '22' as a play on words of his name.[2]
Tootoo 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. Tootoo has also 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, he was re-signed to another two-year contract extension.
On March 19, 2007, the NHL suspended Tootoo for five games. Tootoo hit defenceman Stéphane Robidas of the Dallas Stars with his glove during a game 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 were 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.[3]
Tootoo scored his first playoff goal on April 10, 2008, against the Detroit Red Wings in the second period of Game 1 of the 2008 Western Conference Quarter Finals in a 3-1 loss.
Jordin Tootoo's older brother Terence played for the Roanoke Express of the ECHL in the 2001–02 season. Terence had a successful junior career with the OCN Blizzard, and was named the Express' Rookie of the Year.[4] In August 2002, Terence committed suicide at the age of 22, in the wake of an arrest for drunk driving.[5]
Tootoo's middle name, Kudluk, means "thunder".[6] Jordin's mother Rose is of Ukrainian descent, while his father Barney is an Inuk from Nunavut.[7]
He is the nephew of Manitoba Legislative Assembly Speaker George Hickes and cousin to Nunavut Legislative Assembly Speaker Hunter Tootoo. Both are members of the Canadian New Democratic Party.
Although born in Manitoba, Tootoo grew up in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut,[8] where he was taught to skate and play hockey by his father.[9] Growing up in Rankin Inlet also allowed Tootoo to learn the traditional Inuit lifestyle that includes hunting and camping.[2]
As the first Inuk[2] to play in the National Hockey League he has become a role model for youth in Nunavut.[10][11]
On December 27, 2010, Tootoo voluntarily entered the NHL/NHLPA's Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program to receive treatment for an alcohol problem.[12] Following successful completion of the program, he returned to finish the season and play in the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Tootoo briefly dated American country music singer Kellie Pickler in 2007.[13]
| 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 | ||
| 2008–09 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 72 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 124 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 51 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 40 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2010–11 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 54 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 61 | 12 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 28 | ||
| WHL totals | 220 | 93 | 116 | 209 | 874 | 39 | 12 | 10 | 22 | 125 | ||||
| NHL totals | 409 | 40 | 55 | 95 | 633 | 36 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 59 | ||||
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 |