Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Aug 08/05) - A piece of Terence Tootoo has come home to his family in Rankin Inlet.

The championship rings Terence received for leading the OCN Blizzard to three Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) titles were among his most prized possessions.

Rose Tootoo felt like a piece of her son had come home when Terence Tootoo's three championship rings were returned to her this past month.

The rings - along with other personal items - were stolen from his impounded vehicle at a towing company after the rising star's sudden death in Brandon, Man., in August 2002.

The brother of Nashville Predators young gun Jordin Tootoo, Terence became the first Inuk to ink a professional hockey contract when he signed with the Roanoke Express of the East Coast Hockey League.

He was 22 at the time of his death.

Terence's mom, Rose Tootoo, said the family had originally been contacted by Brandon City Police Sgt. Rick Semler when the police gained possession of the rings.

From there, they had to pass through an insurance company representative and the family lawyer before finally being returned.

"Having the rings returned was like having a piece of Terence come home to us," said Rose. "But there will never be complete closure for Barney (Terence's dad) and I because our boy is gone."

Grateful for tip

Rose said from what she understands, an individual was flashing the stolen rings around at a party in Portage la Prairie, Man.

A female who attended the party phoned a radio announcer in Brandon, who relayed the information to city police.

The name of the person who was in possession of the rings has not been released, and a spokesperson for the Brandon police said it is unlikely charges will be laid in the matter.

That decision isn't sitting well with the Tootoo family.

"We don't know all the particulars involved with how the police retrieved the rings, but we find it appalling that it looks like there won't be any charges laid in the case.

"But that's a police matter. The family is very, very grateful to the individual who had the courage to come forward with the information so that our son's rings are now home where they belong."