Jordin Tootoo

Jordin Tootoo
Born	Jordin John Kudluk Tootoo (1983-02-02) February 2, 1983 Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, Canada
Occupation	Professional ice hockey player (retired)
Years active	2003–2018
Known for	First Inuk athlete in the NHL
Notable work	Autobiography "All The Way: My Life on Ice"

Jordin John Kudluk Tootoo (ᔪᐊᑕᓐ ᑐᑐ; born February 2, 1983) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who competed with the Nashville Predators, Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils, and Chicago Blackhawks. Of Inuit, Ukrainian, and English heritage, he holds the distinction of being the first Inuk athlete to compete in the National Hockey League (NHL). Known as one of the league’s premier agitators, Tootoo utilized his abilities to unsettle opponents and bolster his teams’ performances. By the conclusion of the 2016–17 NHL season, his career statistics included 65 goals, 96 assists, and 1010 penalty minutes accumulated over 723 NHL appearances since his debut in 2003.

In addition to his on-ice achievements, Tootoo is recognized for his philanthropic efforts and dedication to supporting Indigenous communities in northern regions.

On October 19, 2018, Tootoo announced his retirement through Twitter, expressing his intention to dedicate more time to Indigenous community initiatives after playing 220 games with the Wheat Kings and 723 games in the NHL.

Nashville Predators

At age 13, Tootoo relocated from Rankin Inlet to participate in Bantam AAA hockey in Spruce Grove, Alberta. The Brandon Wheat Kings selected him in the third round of the 1998 WHL Bantam Draft. He competed for the Wheat Kings in the Western Hockey League (WHL) from 1999 until 2003. In the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, he was picked 98th overall by the Nashville Predators, becoming both the first player of Inuit descent to be drafted and to appear in a regular-season NHL game on October 9, 2003. Tootoo chose jersey number '22' as a nod to his name.

His initial NHL point came from an assist recorded on October 16, 2003, followed by his first goal a week later. Tootoo achieved two "Gordie Howe hat tricks" — on January 10, 2004, and December 8, 2007 — each featuring a goal, an assist, and a fighting major penalty.

During the 2005–06 NHL season, he divided his playing time between Nashville and their affiliate team, the Milwaukee Admirals, where he also played during the 2004–05 NHL lockout. The Predators extended two-year contracts to him in July 2006 and January 2008.

He netted his first postseason goal on April 10, 2008, facing off against the Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference Quarter Finals.

Tootoo holds Nashville’s franchise record for penalty minutes with a total of 725. Over eight seasons (2003–2012) encompassing 486 games with the Predators, he amassed 46 goals and 79 assists for a total of 125 points.

On February 2, 2019, Nashville celebrated Jordin Tootoo Night at Bridgestone Arena during a game against the Dallas Stars, where he spoke with media representatives and took part in the ceremonial puck drop before the game.

Detroit Red Wings

On July 1, 2012, Tootoo signed a three-year deal worth $5.7 million with the Detroit Red Wings, rivals of Nashville within the Central Division. He scored his inaugural goal for Detroit against his former team on February 19, 2013.

The Red Wings placed him on unconditional waivers for a compliance buyout on June 18, 2014.

New Jersey Devils

Following a tryout period, Tootoo secured a one-year contract with the New Jersey Devils on October 7, 2014. During the 2014–15 campaign, he appeared in 68 games, tallying 10 goals and five assists while accumulating 72 penalty minutes. The Devils re-signed him for another one-year term at $825,000 on May 8, 2015.

Chicago Blackhawks and retirement

On July 5, 2016, Tootoo joined the Chicago Blackhawks as a free agent by signing a one-year deal. His contract was later renewed on February 28, 2017, extending his stay through the 2017–2018 season. However, an upper body injury led to his placement on long-term injury reserve, and he was subsequently waived in November 2017.

Tootoo officially announced his retirement on October 19, 2018, concluding a career that spanned 723 NHL games. Following his retirement, he intends to dedicate his efforts toward improving the lives of Native children facing challenges.

Suspensions and disciplinary issues

Throughout his NHL tenure, Tootoo encountered several disciplinary measures. On March 17, 2007, he delivered a punch to Dallas Stars defenseman Stéphane Robidas, resulting in a concussion. This incident prompted the NHL to impose a five-game suspension without pay two days later amid allegations of unsportsmanlike conduct. Similar concerns arose again on October 11, 2007, when Tootoo delivered a shoulder hit to Phoenix Coyotes' Daniel Winnik targeting the head.

On December 6, 2011, Tootoo was suspended for two games due to charging Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller. This event occurred shortly after Nashville General Manager David Poile publicly endorsed league initiatives aimed at protecting goaltenders.

During a game on February 20, 2013, Columbus Blue Jackets forward Derek Dorsett accused Tootoo of delivering a surprise punch.

Personal life

Jordin Tootoo’s elder brother Terence played junior hockey and competed in the ECHL before tragically dying by suicide in 2002 at age 22. Jordin’s middle name, Kudluk, translates to "thunder" in Inuktitut. His mother Rose is of English and Ukrainian heritage, while his father Barney is Inuit from Nunavut.

He is related to notable political figures: his uncle is George Hickes, Speaker of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly, and his cousin is Hunter Tootoo, former Speaker of the Nunavut Legislative Assembly and federal minister.

Raised in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, Tootoo acquired hockey skills from his father and embraced Inuit cultural traditions. As the NHL’s first Inuk player, he serves as an influential figure for youth in Nunavut.

In 2007, Tootoo was romantically linked to American Idol contestant Kellie Pickler; their relationship ended amid reports of infidelity and inspired Pickler’s song "Best Days of Your Life."

On December 27, 2010, Tootoo voluntarily entered the NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program to address alcohol-related issues. After completing treatment, he returned to participate in the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs.

During the NHL lockout in the 2012–13 season, Tootoo organized Team Tootoo hockey camp in Rankin Inlet focused on community involvement and life skills development alongside hockey training.

In collaboration with journalist Stephen Brunt, Tootoo published his autobiography titled All The Way: My Life on Ice on October 21, 2014.

Team Tootoo Foundation

In recognition of his dedication and teamwork, the New Jersey Devils nominated Tootoo for the NHL Foundation Player Award in 2015. The $25,000 prize was contributed to his charitable organization, marking a milestone for the Team Tootoo Foundation. Established in 2011 and inspired by the suicide of his brother Terence in 2002, the foundation concentrates on suicide prevention and anti-bullying initiatives targeting vulnerable youth. Tootoo has been an outspoken advocate for mental health awareness and frequently shares his personal journey to encourage those facing similar struggles.

International competition

Tootoo wore the Canadian jersey during the 2003 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he contributed two goals and one assist across six matches, helping secure a silver medal for the team.

Regular season and postseason

2005–06 AHL season | Milwaukee Admirals | AHL |41||13||14||27||133 |15||9||2||11||35 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" 2006–07 NHL season | Nashville Predators | NHL |65||3||6||9||116 |4||0||1||1||21 |- 2007–08 NHL season | Nashville Predators | NHL |63||11||7||18||100 |6||2||0||2||4 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" 2008–09 NHL season | Nashville Predators | NHL |72||4||12||16||124 |—||—||—||—||— |- 2009–10 NHL season | Nashville Predators | NHL |51||6||10||16||40 |6||0||1||1||2 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" 2010–11 NHL season | Nashville Predators | NHL |54||8||10||18||61 |12||1||5||6||28 |- 2011–12 NHL season | Nashville Predators | NHL |77||6||24||30||92 |3||0||0||0||4 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" 2012–13 NHL season | Detroit Red Wings | NHL |42||3||5||8||78 |1||0||0||0||2 |- 2013–14 AHL season | Grand Rapids Griffins | AHL |51||6||12||18||104 |4||0||1||1|||4 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" 2013–14 NHL season | Detroit Red Wings | NHL |11|||0|||1|||1|||5 |—|||—|||—|||— |- 2014–15 NHL season | New Jersey Devils | NHL |68|||10|||5|||15|||72 |—|||—|||—|||— |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" 2015–16 NHL season | New Jersey Devils | NHL |66|||4|||5|||9|||102 |—|||—|||—|||— |- 2016–17 NHL season | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL |50|||2|||1|||3|||28 |2|||0|||0|||0 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1997–98	Spruce Grove Broncos AAA	AMBHL		34	20	10	30	149		—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	OCN Blizzard	MJHL		47	16	21	37	251		—	—	—	—	—
1999–2000	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
Career NHL totals !723				65	96	161	1010 !42	3		7	10	65

International

Year	Team	Tournament		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2003	Canada	WJC		6	2	1	3	4
Junior totals				6	2	1	3	4

Awards

• Earned Rookie of the Year, Most Popular Player, and Scholastic Player of the Year honors with the OCN Blizzard during the 1998–99 season.
• Candidate for Manitoba Sportsman of the Year in 2000.
• Recognized as WHL Player of the Month in December 2001.
• Selected as WHL Player of the Week from December 23 to 30, 2001.
• Participated in the 2001 CHL Top Prospects Game.
• Achieved the hardest shot at the 2001 Top Prospects Skills Evaluation, clocked at 96.1 mph.
• Named WHL Player of the Week for November 11–17, 2002.
• Honored with the National Aboriginal Achievement Award in the Youth category in 2002.
• Included in the WHL East First All-Star Team in 2003.
• Awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (Canada) in 2017.

See also

• Notable Aboriginal people of Canada