nccanes
07-24-2003, 10:10 PM
I first heard of this kid during the daylong Hockey Day in Canada special was on CBC (thanks Center Ice and MeanGene for letting us know) this spring. Cherry and MacLean were in Iqaluit, Nunavut for their segments of the broadcast and spoke with Tootoo's parents, friends, coach, etc.
Anyway, there was this article in USA Today on Tuesday that talks about Tootoo (if he makes the Preds roster) being the first Inuit to make it to the NHL and the different life he's led and what kind of "off season training" he does. His older brother (also a hockey player) committed suicide last August. Interesting read, but long - so if you're bored....
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/predators/2003-07-22-tootoo-cover_x.htm
Excerpt:
RANKIN INLET, Nunavut — It is mid-July, and Jordin Tootoo is doing what a top NHL prospect should be doing. He is training. But there are no weight machines or stationary bikes.
Tootoo, 20, is on the Canadian tundra, just below the Arctic Circle — "on the land," as he would put it. Hudson Bay is at his back. Pockets of snow are visible over his right shoulder. He is using nature's Stairmaster — a 100-foot hill lacking a single yard of even terrain. To work his legs, he climbs the rocky incline with a series of powerful standing long jumps — 18 leaps and he's at the top. To work on his upper body, he transports his 102-pound cousin Kelli Hickes on his back. To work his forearms, he switches to two full 5-gallon jugs.
"Forget protein shakes," he says, ripping off a piece of sun-dried arctic char, a fish, to enjoy after his workout. "How much protein do you think is in this?"
And he's got his own website.
http://www.teamtootoo.com/default.aspx
Anyway, there was this article in USA Today on Tuesday that talks about Tootoo (if he makes the Preds roster) being the first Inuit to make it to the NHL and the different life he's led and what kind of "off season training" he does. His older brother (also a hockey player) committed suicide last August. Interesting read, but long - so if you're bored....
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/predators/2003-07-22-tootoo-cover_x.htm
Excerpt:
RANKIN INLET, Nunavut — It is mid-July, and Jordin Tootoo is doing what a top NHL prospect should be doing. He is training. But there are no weight machines or stationary bikes.
Tootoo, 20, is on the Canadian tundra, just below the Arctic Circle — "on the land," as he would put it. Hudson Bay is at his back. Pockets of snow are visible over his right shoulder. He is using nature's Stairmaster — a 100-foot hill lacking a single yard of even terrain. To work his legs, he climbs the rocky incline with a series of powerful standing long jumps — 18 leaps and he's at the top. To work on his upper body, he transports his 102-pound cousin Kelli Hickes on his back. To work his forearms, he switches to two full 5-gallon jugs.
"Forget protein shakes," he says, ripping off a piece of sun-dried arctic char, a fish, to enjoy after his workout. "How much protein do you think is in this?"
And he's got his own website.
http://www.teamtootoo.com/default.aspx