New attititude has Jordin Tootoo playing well

JIM JAMIESON
Postmedia News

VANCOUVER — In seven seasons in the NHL, Nashville Predators winger Jordin Tootoo has established a reputation for being a devastating body checker who’s loved by teammates and despised by opponents.

All that power and belligerence, though, couldn’t help him against the alcohol demons that have tormented him for years.

Tootoo, 28, voluntarily checked himself into the substance abuse and behavioural health program governed by the NHL an NHL Players’ Association on Dec. 27.

He’s a big reason why the Predators have advanced to the Western Conference semifinals, where they are tied 1-1 with the Vancouver Canucks in the best-of-seven series.

“It’s great to be back with the guys,” said Tootoo, who was reinstated by the NHL on Feb. 18, but continues in the program and is required to keep silent regarding issues around his participation.

“You hit bumps in the road a little bit and you deal with them, and where I am today I feel good and I’m excited to be part of the team and in a run for the Cup.”

Tootoo grew up in tiny Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, on northwestern Hudson Bay — 200 kilometres south of the Arctic Circle — and is the first player of Inuit descent to play in the NHL. He left home at 14 to play hockey.

In 2002, Tootoo’s older brother, Terrance, also a hockey player, shot himself to death one day after police charged him with impaired driving.

Tootoo’s mother, Rose, told CBC in December she believes Jordin turned to alcohol to help deal with the pain of his brother’s suicide.

Tootoo is a changed man since returning from rehab, teammates say.

“He’s a different person,” said Predators defenceman Ryan Suter.

“You can see it in practice, the way that he was acting before it wasn’t as important to him as it is now. I think he’s excited to be here and it really shows the way he carries himself.

“He went through a tough time earlier this year. He battled through it and it’s great for him. It just shows what kind of player he can be.”
Tootoo said he has a new appreciation for what he has.

“That’s the whole process of maturing as a player,” he said. “I think I’m at a level where I knew I could be and I’m just excited to be here. There’s thousands of other players who would want to be in my shoes. Nowadays, I don’t take things for granted. I got out and work hard every day.”

That was obvious in the first round of the playoffs when Tootoo — known more for chippy hits and scrapping than scoring — put up five points (1-4) in the six-game first-round series against Anaheim.

Tootoo, who’s a youth hero in Nunavut, said he’s drawn strength from the support of family and friends to get through the trials of the past few months.

“Everyone has been tremendous with all the support that they’ve given me,” he said. “I feel great out there, comfortable in my body, comfortable as a hockey player. It’s one day at a time.”

Predators coach Barry Trotz, who is about as astute an observer of the human condition as you’ll find, put it all into perspective.

“It takes a strong man to have to admit that you’re weak in some areas,” he said.

“I think he’s found peace in his life. I think he’s found order. Your game can’t be in order unless your life is in order. Last series he was tremendous and down the stretch he was tremendous. Once he got back into the flow, he was a big factor in us winning that series.

“You see his game is really growing. He’s had a lot of pressures. He had a unique upbringing, some very devastating things happened in his life. We all deal with things like that differently. But Jordin made that life decision and it’s changed his life and his game.”