RANKIN INLET - Rankin Inlet's Jordin Tootoo of the Nashville Predators is receiving plenty of support at home as he works his way towards returning to NHL action.

Jordin Tootoo is currently in outpatient care with the NHL and NHLPA's substance abuse program. -

Tootoo, 28, returned to practice earlier this month after getting the green light from the NHL and the NHL Players' Association to enter the follow-up-care phase of the substance abuse and behaviourial health program.

He entered the program voluntarily on Dec. 27.

Tootoo can practise with the Predators while continuing outpatient care, but, as of press time, has not been cleared to play in games or travel on road trips with the team.

Before entering the program, Tootoo was on track to put up the best statistics of his seven-year career, having notched 10 points and 47 penalty minutes in 32 games.

Rankin's Troy Aksalnik, also 28, is a lifelong friend of Tootoo's.

Aksalnik said he was taken by surprise when Tootoo entered the program.

He said he had just returned from a holiday in Nashville with Tootoo, and only remembers him drinking once during his stay.

"I guess the drinking had become an ongoing thing with Jordin and he had to make a decision, and he made the right one," said Aksalnik.

"A lot of people know alcohol had become an issue with Jordin, and he made the decision to quit at the right time because he knew he was starting to go overboard with it.

"All our friends are really proud of Jordin for what he's done.

"They all know alcohol is, probably, the biggest problem for Jordin and we're all proud and happy to see him taking the right steps."

Aksalnik is showing more support for his best friend by also taking a break from booze.

He said he hasn't touched a drop in six weeks.

"On new year's night I decided I was going to support Jordin 100 per cent and quit drinking until the end of the hockey season.

"It's been six weeks since I've had a drink and my goal is to stay away from it for at least six months.

"I was drinking about 24 beer a week and a bit of the hard stuff, but I haven't found giving it up very hard."

Aksalnik said he's confident most people will respect Tootoo's decision to stop drinking if he comes home to visit this summer.

He said Tootoo's true friends wouldn't dream of tempting him to party.

"These are the times when you find out who your true friends are.

"People supporting you are your real friends."

Aksalnik has spoken with Tootoo a few times since he returned to Nashville.

He said Tootoo is more talkative now and sounds a lot happier.

"The last time we talked he wasn't sure when he was going to get into a game, but he was hoping soon.

"Our last few conversations have been the best I've heard Jordin sound since he started in the show.

"He says he feels great and doesn't miss drinking at all."

Donald Clark is a longtime educator and hockey coach in Rankin who has known Tootoo most of his life.

Clark said his contact with Tootoo has been "in and out" since he left home to pursue his dream of playing in the NHL, but he usually stops by to chat when in Rankin.

Clark said he was a little shocked when he first heard Tootoo had entered the substance abuse program.

He said it was smart for Tootoo to take the first step in finding a solution to the challenge he faces.

"It was better for him to recognize it himself than to be told by the team, or someone else, that this is what he has to do," said Clark.

"Once I got over the initial shock, I started feeling satisfaction that Jordin was taking the right steps to get his life back on track."

Clark said, in his opinion, Tootoo has been handling the situation properly.

But, he said, most people will interpret it whatever way they want.

"I would hope most people see this as another step he's taken as a positive role model.

"If something comes up in your life that you have to do something about, it's better to initiate the action to overcome the problem.

"In that sense, it was a very positive step in terms of his role-model status within Nunavut and elsewhere."

Clark said when you look at Tootoo in the NHL - with everything going for him playing the greatest game in the world at the highest level - you realize something like this can happen to anyone.

He said problems surface for people no matter where they're at in life.

"With alcohol, no matter if you're younger or older, it can take over your life if you don't manage it well.

"Hopefully this has been a real eye-opener for some that it can happen to anybody, not just the homeless or the underprivileged."

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