Jordin Tootoo - A very special hockey player

He is the first hockey player of Inuit origin to play in the NHL.

In his native tongue, his name is Kudluk, which means "thunder."

Fans of the Nashville Predators, and the rest of the league, however, Flyers Jerseys know him by name Anglo - Jordin.

Jordin Tootoo is 20 years old and a rookie in the NHL.

I talked to him before practice Predators' on November 18 in El Segundo, California, the night before losing 3-0 to the Kings in Los Angeles.

I was surprised how mature and focused Jordin is for someone so young.

The fact that his name means thunder in the language of the Inuit (Eskimos are known as Eskimos in the United States is not surprising.

It's the way it has always played hockey and Nashville fans would not have it any other way.

Jordin grew at a settlement called Rankin Inlet in the Canadian territory of Nunavut, which is south of the Arctic Circle.

On October 9, Jordin made history by becoming not only the first player of Inuit descent to play in the NHL, but hockey period.

He is not the only Inuit family member good enough to play hockey though. Crosby Jersehys His father and brother were also very good players.

I asked why more players ever Inuit to reach the NHL and said simply, "the location. We are isolated and many scouts do not come."

To get an idea of how far from his village, when Jordin made its debut in Nashville, proud parents first flew to Winnipeg, Manitoba, then to Toronto, and finally to Nashville.

Other relatives were more adventurous. They flew to Winnipeg too, but then took a bus to Nashville, about 2,000 miles away.

Growing up as a young man in the 1980's, like most children in western Canada, Jordin favorite hockey team is the Edmonton Oilers.

His favorite player was Wendel Clark, the Toronto Maple Leafs, whose style of play is much like Jordin.

At the beginning of this article, I said some things about Jordin surprised me. Crosby Jersey Not only maturity, but your choice in food. I asked him what was, and his answer surprised me.

Sushi.

Yes, in the land of barbecue, Jordin is a big fan of sushi. He said he could not get enough sushi, especially the type of seafood.

(In case you are wondering as I did, Jordin told me they have barbecues.)

Jordin is a favorite of fans in the land of football and country and western music, which by its reaction, there seemed to be on your list of music that would run to the store to buy.

However, I believe that if you stay in "Music City", which will grow in it.

Is far from home, but Jordin is in contact with family and friends, we all want both Nashville Predator clothes they can get without making the long trip to Tennessee. He also has his own website - www.teamtootoo.com.

Jordin Tootoo is a very special hockey player.