News Stories/Articles:

Red Wings' Justin Abdelkader grows up right before our eyes - Grand Rapids Press - Sept. 30, 2009
Local Boy Makes Good - Griffiti Magazine - Oct. 25, 2008

Alternate captain…Second season as a Griffin…Second year pro…Ranks among the Griffins’ all-time leaders with one overtime goal (T7th)…Signed to an amateur tryout by Detroit, 4/3/08…Signed to a three-year entry-level contract by Detroit, 4/4/08…Assigned by Detroit, 10/5/08…Recalled by Detroit, 1/30/09…Assigned by Detroit, 2/3/09…Recalled by Detroit, 5/8/09…Assigned by Detroit, 10/8/09…Recalled by Detroit, 10/10/09.
 
2008-09: Helped the Detroit Red Wings reach the Stanley Cup Finals…Became the first player in history to score his first two NHL goals in Games 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals…Also became the first player to score his first NHL goal in the Stanley Cup Finals since Griffins assistant coach Jim Paek did it with the 1991 Cup-winning Penguins, and the first rookie to light the lamp in Games 1 and 2 since Minnesota’s Dino Ciccarelli in 1981…Earned three points (2-1—3) and a plus-2 rating in 10 playoff appearances with the Red Wings…Served as an alternate captain for the Griffins…Named to the AHL All-Rookie Team…Honored as the Reebok Edge/AHL Rookie of the Month for October…Made his AHL debut and logged 76 games with Grand Rapids, ranking among the circuit’s rookie leaders with 52 points (8th), 24 goals (T3rd), 28 assists (T13th), 10 power play goals (T4th), one shorthanded goal (T5th), two shorthanded points (T5th), 195 shots (7th) and 36 minor penalties (T4th)…Placed among the Griffins’ leaders in games played (3rd), goals (T2nd), assists (5th), points (2nd), penalty minutes (102, 2nd), power play goals (2nd), shorthanded goals (1, T3rd), first goals (4, T2nd) and shots (2nd)…His 102 PIM were the most ever for a Griffins center…Matched teammate Francis Pare for the most goals scored by a Grand Rapids rookie, breaking Kevyn Adams’ 12-year-old record (22 in 1996-97), while also totaling the second-most points ever by a first-year Griffin (55 by Glen Metropolit in 1997-98)…Led the Griffins with six playoff goals…His six goals against Hamilton in the North Division Semifinals set a franchise record for a single playoff round, while his four-game goal streak (4/17/09-4/22/09) fell one shy of the team’s playoff mark (Stacy Roest)…Scored his first pro/AHL goal during his Griffins debut, 10/11/08 at Lake Erie…Netted his first pro hat trick, 10/26/08 vs. Norfolk…Notched an overtime goal, 1/21/09 vs. Toronto…Earned points in 13 of 18 contests (8-13—21) following a two-game stint with the Red Wings, 2/4/09-3/14/09…Did not score on his only shootout attempt. 2007-08: Served as a “black ace” during the Red Wings’ run to the Stanley Cup championship…Made his NHL debut with Detroit in its Presidents’ Trophy-clinching win, 4/3/08 vs. Columbus, following the conclusion of his junior year at Michigan State…Named the CCHA’s Best Defensive Forward in addition to winning the league’s Humanitarian of the Year award…An Honorable Mention All-CCHA selection…Earned MSU hockey’s Spartan Fitness Award, and received the Amo Bessone Award honoring athletic, academic and community participation…Posted career highs in all points categories, placing second on the Spartans and tying for eighth in the CCHA with 40 points (19-21—40) in 42 contests…Ranked third on the team in goals and assists and first with a career-high 107 penalty minutes…Tied for eighth in the nation with five game-winning goals…Netted his first collegiate hat trick, 2/29/08 vs. Bowling Green…Named to the NCAA West Regional All-Tournament Team…Served as MSU’s alternate captain…Started the “Shoot for a Cure” initiative, which raised more than $5,000 to fight children’s cancer. 2006-07: Named the Most Outstanding Player at the 2007 Frozen Four and selected to the all-tournament team…Scored the game-winning goal in the National Championship game against Boston College with just 18.9 seconds left, the latest game-winner ever in an NCAA title game, to give the Spartans their first championship in 21 years…Placed third on the Spartans with 18 assists and 33 points…Led the team with 91 PIM…Helped Team USA to a bronze medal at the 2007 World Junior Championship in Sweden, logging two assists in seven games. 2005-06: Helped Michigan State capture the CCHA tournament championship…Honorable Mention selection to the CCHA All-Rookie Team, ranking eighth among conference freshmen with 22 points (10-12—22) in 44 games. 2004-05: Led USHL Cedar Rapids to the Clark Cup championship…Played in the USHL All-Star Game…Ranked among the team’s leaders with a club record-tying 27 goals (T1st), 25 assists (T6th), 52 points (T3rd), 86 penalty minutes (3rd), nine power play goals (T2nd) and a plus-20 rating (T3rd)…His 52 points tied for 16th in league scoring. 2003-04: Named Mr. Hockey by the Michigan High School Hockey Coaches while playing at Mona Shores High School in Muskegon…Member of the Dream Team and an all-state selection…Mona Shores lost to Trenton 4-3 in the Division 2 state final…At the USA Hockey Select-17 Festival in St. Cloud, Minn., in July 2004, he tied for the lead with five goals in six games while playing for Team Michigan.

Personal: Lives in Muskegon, Mich….Working toward a degree in management…Hockey idol as a youth was Steve Yzerman, whom he chose his jersey number in honor of…Greatest influence on his career was his parents…First job was working as a bag boy at the Muskegon Country Club…Most exciting place he’s visited is Sweden…Played football, basketball and golf growing up…Once met actor John Cusack…Favorite food is pasta…Favorite TV show is Entourage…Favorite web site is facebook.com…Favorite vacation spot is California…Roots for the Michigan State Spartans…Favorite sport to watch besides hockey is football.

Career Stats