Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Jan 06/03) - The instant Jordin Tootoo hits the ice, Canadians go wild.

At the Halifax Metro Centre, where the Rankin Inlet-born hockey star recently leapt to fame, chants of "Tootoo, Tootoo," reverberated off the walls as 10,300 frenzied spectators reacted to his presence with Team Canada.

Team Canada's Jordin Tootoo has captured the attention of the country over the last two weeks. -- NNSL file photo -

Though his national stardom is new, Tootoo's arrival on the hockey scene is not. Known as number 22 with his skates on, Tootoo was drafted by the NHL's Nashville Predators last year and is a driving force on the Brandon Wheat Kings this year. And yet, it was in just the last two weeks of the World Junior IIHF (International Ice Hockey federation) championship that Tootoo captured the hearts and attention of the country.

Southern fans have come to love when the aggressive, goal-scoring forward takes and delivers punishing hits. In Nunavut, where Tootoo's robust style is already well-known, every TV in the land was tuned to TSN to catch the tournament.

"Even during our New Year's Eve dinner when we were invited out, everyone sat and ate in front of the TV," said Charlie Lyall of Taloyoak. "We've watched every game. It makes you pretty proud and it's proof that you can make your dreams happen," he said.

Pamela O'Carroll, the manager of the Siniktarvik Hotel in Rankin Inlet, wanted to make sure everyone had the chance to catch Tootoo play for Team Canada. She opened up the hotel's conference rooms and set up 150 chairs in front of a floor-to-ceiling projection screen. "I know how he's thought of here and I know not everybody has a TV," said O'Carroll. "Every time the name Tootoo is mentioned on TV, the roof just about comes off the building."

Iqaluit resident Victor Tootoo was lucky enough to sit in the stands at the Halifax Metro Centre. A cousin of the famed hockey player, Victor said it was incredible to sit among thousands of people cheering for Jordin. "Everybody is calling him Canada's favourite player. I hear Tootoo everywhere. You hear his name being screamed on the streets hours after the games are over," said Victor. "It's amazing. The emotion is so strong. You can tell Jordin is happy. He's smiling and having fun doing what he likes to do."

Fifteen-year-old Megan Pizzo-Lyall is extremely interested in Tootoo's hockey career. A player herself, the Taloyoak resident said she looks up to the man she calls, "Sexy Jordin" because, "He's a good player and because he looks good, too," she said.