Jordin Tootoo Jordin John Kudluk Tootoo ( Inuktitut : ᔪᐊᑕᓐ ᔮᓐ ᑲᑦᓗᒃ ᑐᑐ ; born February 2 , 1983 age 30 ) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) . His middle name " Kudluk " means " thunder " . His mother , Rose Tootoo , is of Ukrainian descent , while his father , Barney , is an Inuk from Nunavut . He is also the nephew of Manitoba Legislative Assembly Speaker George Hickes and cousin to Nunavut MLA Hunter Tootoo . Although born in Manitoba , Tootoo grew up in Rankin Inlet , where he was taught to skate and play hockey by his father , Barney . Growing up in Rankin Inlet also allowed Tootoo to learn the traditional Inuit lifestyle that includes hunting and camping . As the first half - Inuk to play in the National Hockey League he has become a role model for youth in Nunavut . Playing career . Jordin Tootoo played for the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League ( WHL ) from 1999 to 2003 and was selected 98th overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft as the 6th choice of the Nashville Predators . He became the first player of Inuit descent to play in a regular season NHL game when he suited up against the Anaheim Ducks on opening night October 9 , 2003 . He was also the first person of Inuit descent to be drafted by an NHL team . Jordin wears the number ' 22 ' as a play on words of his name . He got his first NHL point with an assist on a Dan Hamhuis goal against the St . Louis Blues on October 16 , 2003 and scored his first NHL goal against the Atlanta Thrashers on October 23 . Also , Tootoo has earned two " Gordie Howe hat tricks " — on January 10 , 2004 , and December 8 , 2007 — when he notched a goal , an assist , and a fighting major in each game . He spent the 2005 – 06 season between the Nashville Predators and the Predators ' minor league affiliate , the Milwaukee Admirals , where he played during the 2004 – 05 NHL lockout . On July 21 , 2006 he was re - signed by the Predators to a two - year contract . On January 31 , 2008 , Tootoo was re - signed to another two - year contract extension . On March 19 , 2007 , the NHL suspended Tootoo for five games . Tootoo hit defenceman Stéphane Robidas of the Dallas Stars with his glove during the Stars game against Nashville on March 17 . Robidas suffered a concussion and was rendered unconscious . The NHL issued a five - game suspension without pay , and accusations of " dirty " play have been leveled at Tootoo . These accusations were resurrected after an incident on October 11 , 2007 , in which Tootoo hit the head of Daniel Winnik of the Phoenix Coyotes with his shoulder . He scored his first playoff goal on April 10 , 2008 , against the Detroit Red Wings in the second period of Game 1 of the 2008 Western Conference Quarter Finals in a 3 - 1 loss . International statistics Personal life . Jordin Tootoo ' s older brother , Terence , was also a hockey player . Terence played for the Roanoke Express of the ECHL in the 2001 – 02 season , after a successful junior career with the OCN Blizzard , and was named the Express ' Rookie of the Year . In August 2002 , Terence committed suicide at the age of 22 , in the wake of an arrest for drunk driving . Jordin Tootoo briefly dated country music star Kellie Pickler in 2007