Former Cedar Rapids RoughRiders forward Justin Abdelkader made his National Hockey League debut for the Detroit Red Wings last night in the Red Wings’ 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets in Detroit.
Abdelkader, 21, put two shots on goal in 11:20 of ice time as the Red Wings came from behind to clinch the President’s Cup (regular season title).
Abdelkader signed an amateur tryout contract with the Red Wings after completing his junior season at Michigan State. Abdelkader is the third RoughRider alumnus to play in the NHL, joining Dave Moss (Calgary Flames) and Ted Purcell (Los Angeles Kings).
Last week Abdelkader was not only named the Central Collegiate Hockey Association’s Best Defensive Forward and a CCHA All-Conference Honorable Mention selection, but also received the Ilitch Humanitarian Award as the league’s top citizen based on his contributions on and off the ice to his team, his program, his school and his community. Abdelkader scored 19 goals and totaled 40 points in 42 games with Michigan State this season.
Abdelkader and the Spartans were eliminated by Notre Dame last Saturday in the second round of the NCAA tournament after winning the national title last season. It was Abdelkader, in fact, who scored the winning goal in the last April’s national championship game. Abdelkader totaled 44 goals and 95 points in 124 career collegiate games.
Abdelkader was a member of the RoughRiders’ 2004-05 Clark Cup-winning team. The Muskegon, Michigan, native finished tied for the team lead in goals (27) and totaled 52 points in his lone season in the USHL. Abdelkader was selected by the Wings in the second round of the 2005 NHL draft with the forty-second overall pick. He was drafted earlier than any other RoughRider in team history.
The RoughRiders (33-21-4, 70 points) are in third place in the United States Hockey League’s East Division. The Riders close out the regular season with a pair of games this weekend. The Riders will host the Indiana Ice tonight at 7:05 before travelling to Waterloo tomorrow evening to take on the arch rival Black Hawks.
Tickets for tonight’s game are now on sale. Tickets are available for purchase in person at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena ticket office, over the phone at (319) 261-4625 or on line at www.roughridershockey.com. The ticket office is open from noon to 5:00PM on weekdays and from noon through the end of the second period on game days. Ticket prices range from $7 to $17 in advance and from $8 to $18 on game day.