Heads are turning

KIRSTEN MURPHY

United States President George W. Bush, Spiderman and Jordin Tootoo share one common bond.

All three have bobblehead dolls molded after their famous faces.

Tootoo heads were introduced last month in Brandon, Manitoba, where the former Rankin Inlet resident plays right wing for the Brandon Wheat Kings.

Iqaluit’s Brian Twerdin purchased two of the wobbly miniatures from the Wheat Kings’ Web page. One doll sits at home, the other one is displayed at his Grind and Brew coffee shop.

Customers say the malleable figurine is unique. They also agree the doll bears little resemblance to the popular offenceman — who is three games away from ending a seven-game suspension for breaking an opponent’s leg.

Even Number 22 (as in two-two), as he’s known on the ice, questions the similarity between him and his plastic twin.

“I saw the drawing and it looked liked me. When I saw [the bobblehead], I couldn’t see the resemblance. But hey, it is a bobblehead and it’s cool to have something not all hockey players have,” said Tootoo from his home in southern Manitoba.

The 5-foot-8 forward’s list of athletic accomplishments is lengthy. In 1995, Tootoo started playing peewee hockey for the Young Bulls in Fort Providence, Northwest Territories. He went on to play for Canada’s National under-18 hockey team in 2000. Last month he represented Canada in the World Junior Championship gold medal game against Russia in Halifax.

In 2001, Tootoo made history when he became the first Inuk to be drafted by the National Hockey League’s Nashville Predators.

Tootoo received a National Aboriginal Achievement Award for his athletic accomplishments in 2002.

Now, as Tootoo’s reputation as a hockey player and aboriginal role model grows, so too does the merchandise bearing his name. TeamTootoo.com, a Web page launched last spring, offers signature clothing, hockey pucks and licence plates.

Tootoo’s business manager, Neil Roy, oversees the site. Roy said the demand for Tootoo goods exceeds the supply — especially after Team Canada’s silver medal finish at the World Junior Championship last month.

“Let’s just say the business does well. It’s absolutely amazing when a business makes money in its first year,” Roy said.

Future merchandise includes key chains and a train whistle, the latter gizmo a play on the recently coined phrase, “Ride the Tootoo train.”

Victor Tootoo, first cousin to Jordin, recently had his limited edition Team Tootoo licence plate stolen from his sport-utility vehicle in Iqaluit. Victor posted a message on the local Rantin’ and Raven Internet site hoping to reclaim it. No luck, so far.

“It’s a limited-edition plate so I can’t go buy another one,” he said.

The missing $20 plate was a present from a family member. Victor’s frustration is over the loss of something meaningful, not something material.

“I guess it shows how popular he is,” he said.

Number 22’s rise to fame has not been without bumps.

The loss of older brother Terence, also an NHL hopeful, to suicide in August 2002 is ever present when he laces up his skates.

“Terence was a guy who loved to be at the rink…. He’s watching down on me,” Tootoo was quoted as saying in a Canadian Press article.

In memory of his brother, the word “Ter 22” appears subtly on Team Tootoo logos and designs.