Atiqtalaaq Uuttuvak, Nunavut hockey sensation, called the next Jordin Tootoo
Uuttuvak, 9, heads to Europe to play against elite competition in Prague, Budapest
A nine-year-old hockey sensation from Pond Inlet, Nunavut now living in Ottawa is ready to head to Europe to play elite hockey against older players.
Atiqtalaaq Uuttuvak, a Grade 5 student at Queen Elizabeth Public School, will soon travel to Prague, Czech Republic, and Budapest, Hungary with his family for two weeks of stiff competition.
He has headed to Europe the past two summers, but this is the first time his family will travel to support him thanks to about $6,000 in donations from people across North America and Europe.
Uuttuvak, who goes by the name "Q," was only able to play hockey after his mother turned to Facebook to help raise money.
Sheutiapik Peter, Q's father. says his son is a modest team player. "He has great respect for his teammates ... he's there to help them and he seems happy and you'll see more of him."
Maxime Chamberland, Q's summer hockey coach, says even though Q is only nine, he plays smarter and faster than other kids his age.
"He's a great kid, he has lots of talent, skills, attitude and I've seen him evolve."
Some even call him the next Jordin Tootoo.
Tootoo, 32, of Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, is the first Inuk, and the first Nunavut native, ever to play in the National Hockey League.
Check out the photos above for more on Q's hockey journey.