Justin Abdelkader

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Position Left Wing
Shoots Left
Height
Weight		 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
215 lb (98 kg/15 st 5 lb)
NHL Team Detroit Red Wings
Nationality Flag of the United States United States
Born February 25, 1987 (1987-02-25) (age 21),
Muskegon, Michigan, U.S.
NHL Draft 42nd overall, 2005
Detroit Red Wings
Pro career 2008 – present

Justin Abdelkader (Born February 25, 1987 in Muskegon, Michigan), is a former college ice hockey forward for the Michigan State University Spartans of the CCHA currently playing with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League.

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[edit] Personal life

Justin Abdelkader is the son of Joseph and Sheryl Abdelkader. He graduated from Mona Shores High School in 2005, where he was named to the all-state hockey team and awarded the Mr. Hockey award, given to the top high school ice hockey player in the state. His senior year he played for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the USHL, where his contributions helped win the Clark Cup, the USHL Championship.

In the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Justin was selected 42nd overall by the Detroit Red Wings. He was also selected to play for the United States Junior National Team at the IIHF World Junior Championship in Sweden in 2007.[1]

On April 7, 2007, Justin scored the game-winning goal in the 2007 NCAA Championship Game against Boston College, securing the NCAA Division 1 National Championship for Michigan State University and earning him the Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player. Justin scored the latest game-winning regulation goal ever scored in an NCAA Frozen Four championship game when he scored with just 18.9 seconds left.

[edit] Detroit Red Wings

On April 3, 2008, Abdelkader signed a one game amateur tryout with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League and was to play in their game that night against the Columbus Blue Jackets. In doing so, Abdelkader has forfeited his college eligibility and will not be with the Spartans for the 2008-09 season. The following day, Abdelkader signed a three year contract[2] with the Detroit Red Wings.

On June 4, 2008, Abdelkader won the Stanley Cup with the Red Wings after they beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2.

[edit] International Play

Abdelkader represented the United States in the 2007 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, in Sweden.

[edit] International Statistics

Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM
2007 USA WJC 7 0 2 2 10
Senior Int'l Totals 7 0 2 2 10
Medal record
World Junior Championships
Bronze 2007 USA

[edit] Career Statistics

    Regular Season
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM
2004-2005 Cedar Rapids RoughRiders USHL 60 27 25 52 --
2005-2006 Michigan State Spartans NCAA 44 10 12 22 83
2006-2007 Michigan State Spartans NCAA 38 15 18 33 91
2007-2008 Michigan State Spartans NCAA 42 19 21 40 107
2007-2008 Detroit Red Wings NHL 2 0 0 0 2

[edit] References

  1. ^ Player Bio:Justin Abdelkader. MSU Athletics (2006-01-01). Retrieved on 2006-12-29.
  2. ^ Kopecky done for rest of season; Abdelkader signed for three years - Detroit Red Wings Hockey: News, Blogs, Photos, Audio, Schedule & Stats - MLive.com.

[edit] External links

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