Tootoo happy in Chicago, happier at home

By: Mike Sawatzky Posted: 2:39 PM CST Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016 Last Modified: 8:16 PM CST Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016 | Updates

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Jordin Tootoo is an older man in a young man’s game and he’s not afraid to admit he relishes every minute of life in the NHL.

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Jordin Tootoo is an older man in a young man’s game and he’s not afraid to admit he relishes every minute of life in the NHL.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/11/2016 (3278 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Jordin Tootoo is an older man in a young man’s game and he’s not afraid to admit he relishes every minute of life in the NHL.

“You put so much into this hockey world and obviously there’s a whole other life after,” the 33-year-old said Tuesday. “For me, right now, I know I’m still an NHL player and I’m enjoying every bit of it and not worrying about what lies ahead.”

Tootoo finished his 13th season as a pro last spring with the New Jersey Devils and it wasn’t a given he would be back in the NHL for his 14th. But then, the perennial powerhouse Chicago Blackhawks came calling.

Chicago Blackhawks right wing Jordin Tootoo (22) takes a shot at goal in front of Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) during the first period on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016 at the United Center in Chicago, Ill. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune/TNS)

He had been playing fourth-line minutes for the Blackhawks through 15 regular-season games, registering nine penalty minutes with a plus-1 rating, but that ended Sunday when he was a healthy scratch and watched Chicago’s 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens in street clothes.

He was back in the lineup Tuesday for the Hawks game against the Jets.

“For me, I’m a pro,” said Tootoo. “I come every day and prepare for whatever’s thrown at you. There’s always a lot of curveballs and whatnot.

“When you have a core group of guys that understand what it takes and know how to be leaders by example, it really filters to other guys in the dressing room. For me, I want to add a little piece to the puzzle and be a good guy in the dressing room.”

Since 2010, when he entered the NHL’s substance-abuse program, Tootoo has been a model citizen. He’s also working on becoming a model parent — he and his wife Jennifer celebrated the arrival of their first child, daughter Siena Rose, in May.

“You look at life from a different perspective,” he said, explaining the impact of parenthood. “Obviously, I sobered up six years ago and I really took a few steps back to fix myself and for me, now, life couldn’t be any better… I had a tough few years when I first sobered up but it’s about finding yourself. Fortunately, I have a great family support system. My wife (has had) a key role in a lot of my success and turning things around. Being a dad is probably one of the most beautiful things.”

Tootoo, who grew up in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, and was the first Inuk player to reach the NHL, takes his stature seriously.

On Monday night, he spent some time visiting with patients — young and old from the North — at the Kivalliq Inuit Centre, which provides temporary housing for Inuit in Winnipeg for medical reasons.

“Did a little surprise visit,” said Tootoo. “Obviously you wanna try and put a smile on some of those kids’ faces. I’m very grateful to be a huge role model for a lot of kids up north, and families and whatnot. So it’s a little giving back to the community.”

— Mike Sawatzky