Darrell Greer and Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (SEP 02/02) - The community of Rankin Inlet is reeling from the sudden death of one of its favourite sons.

The body of Terence Tootoo, 22, was discovered in the woods about four kilometres northeast of Brandon, Man., on Aug. 29.

Foul play is not suspected.

Tootoo was the first Inuk to play professional hockey when he suited up in Virginia with the Roanoke Express of the East Coast Hockey League last year.

The news spread quickly throughout his home town, sending the community into a state of shock.

Kyle Tattuinee, 20, was a good friend of Tootoo's.

The two often met on the ice while Tootoo was starring for the OCN Blizzard of the Manitoba Junior A Hockey League, and Tattuinee was playing with the Swan Valley Stampeders and Southeast Blades of Fort Alexander.

"Terence was like a big brother to me," Tattuinee said last week, his voice choked with emotion. "He used to tell me, 'You're as big as your heart is.' "

Tattuinee said he's still in a state of disbelief, adding that Tootoo's outgoing personality makes his death harder to accept.

"I can still see him in my head with that big smile on his face. It's hard trying to deal with the fact he's not going to be around anymore."

Shawn Maley, a friend of the Tootoo family, said community leaders brought the closest of Tootoo's friends together to deal with their emotions.

"These young guys were just devastated by the news," said Maley. "We wanted to get them together as a group to deal with their feelings and work things out together. Terence really raised the bar. Not just as a hockey player, but as an individual."

The news of Tootoo's death was met with similar disbelief in Roanoke.

"There is nothing about him I didn't love," said teammate Brad Essex, according to a transcript of a hastily called press conference.

In July, Tootoo signed a new contract to play with the Roanoke team and was preparing to attend the training camp of the American Hockey League Norfolk Admirals, the farm team of the Chicago Blackhawks.

"He was never too cool, never too busy to answer all my questions," said teammate and former roommate Duncan Dalmao.

Sadness also gripped the Manitoba hockey community.

"Terence ... exemplified everything hockey is about," said Zack Moore, who was president of the Blizzard when Tootoo played for them. "Like everyone else in this community I am devastated this happened."

After playing two seasons and winning an MJHL championship with the Blizzard, Tootoo moved on last year to play professional hockey with the Express.

Although he was never drafted by an NHL team, Tootoo's profile in the ECHL caught the eye of Blackhawks scout and Admirals general manager Al MacIsaac. He invited Tootoo to try out for the AHL team -- one step below the National Hockey League.

"He was a fan favourite. (He was) a feisty, feisty player," MacIsaac told the Virginian-Pilot newspaper last Thursday.

Express coach Perry Florio said Tootoo made a name for himself in the league.

"I was just at a coaches meeting in Charlotte, N.C., and a lot of coaches ... wanted to trade (for him)," said Florio.

Standing five feet eight inches and weighing 180 pounds, Tootoo played with the reckless abandon that fans love and opposition teams hate. Tootoo's coaches and teammates talk about heart and fire whenever they describe the diminutive forward with the punishing checks.

Just last Tuesday, Tootoo called the Express equipment manager and ordered a new pair of skates.

He was training last week with his brother, Jordin, in Brandon before heading off to training camp.

Jordin plays with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL and was drafted by the NHL Nashville Predators in June 2001.

Terence, playing centre, scored nine goals and led the Express with 218 penalty minutes during his rookie season.