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'Jordin Kudluk Tootoo' (Inuktitut syllabics: 'ᔪᐊᑕᓐ ᑐᑐ'; born February 2, 1983 in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada) is a professional ice hockey player. His middle name ''Kudluk'' (''kalluk'' in standard Roman spelling) means "thunder". kalluk
His mother, Rose Tootoo, is of Ukrainian Canadian descent, while his father, Barney, is Inuit from Nunavut.^[1] 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,^[2] where he was taught to skate and play hockey by his father, Barney.^[3] Growing up in Rankin Inlet also allowed Tootoo to learn the traditional Inuit lifestyle that includes hunting and camping.⁴
As the first Inuk^[4] to play in the National Hockey League he has become a role model for youth in Nunavut.^[5]

Contents

Playing career

Awards

Career statistics

International play

Personal life

External links

References

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 Mighty 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. Tootoo also got a "Gordie Howe hat trick" against the St. Louis Blues on January 10th, 2004 when he notched a goal, an assist, and a fighting major.
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 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.

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.²

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
WHL totals				220	93	116	209	874		39	12	10	22	125
NHL totals				169	11	16	27	308		12	0	1	1	25

''Points updated as of May 21, 2007.''

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 World Junior Championships.
'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

Jordin's older brother, Terence Tootoo, was also a hockey player. Terence played for the Roanoke Express of the East Coast Hockey League 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.
Tootoo is currently in a relationship American Idol finalist Kellie Pickler.^[6]

External links

★

★ Jordin Tootoo at USA Today

References

1. The New York TImes - HOCKEY; It's a Long Way Down to Nashville
2. National Aboriginal Achivement Awards
3. nativehockey.com
4. Number 22 is number one with Nunavummiut Nunatsiaq News
5. Poster Takes Jordin Tootoo Inspiration Beyond Hockey
6. Nunavut hockey star introduces American Idol girlfriend to family