Abdelkader signs with Red Wings

Justin Abdelkader has had a busy 24 hours.

After deciding to forgo his senior season, the MSU hockey junior forward was signed to an amateur tryout with the Detroit Red Wings and made his NHL debut Thursday night against Columbus.

“It’s an amazing feeling to realize my dream of being a Red Wing, and I would like to thank the Detroit organization,” Abdelkader said in a press release. “On the flip side, it’s difficult to leave Michigan State. My three years there were the best of my life, and not only from a hockey standpoint.”

Abdelkader, who wore No. 8 in the game and replaced Red Wings regular Kirk Maltby (out with a hamstring injury), played 11:20. He was minus-1 with three shots, two penalty minutes and was 3-for-6 on faceoffs.

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound center from Muskegon, who was drafted by the Wings in the second round of the 2005 NHL draft, had a career-best 19 goals and 40 points this season for the Spartans. He finished his career with 44 goals and 51 assists for 95 points in 124 games, while tallying 120 penalties.

His most notable moment was arguably when he scored the game-winning goal with 18.9 seconds remaining in the Spartans’ 2007 National Championship against Boston College. The alternate captain was named the most outstanding player in the Frozen Four.

“We’re very happy for Justin,” MSU head coach Rick Comley said in a press release. “Obviously, this is one of those situations where we’re thrilled for a player who has meant so much to our program and helped us achieve a tremendous amount of success; on the other hand, we’re disappointed that he won’t be back for his senior year. But we have nothing but good thoughts and we wish him the absolute best. He has meant a tremendous amount to our program, and we look forward to watching his success as a professional athlete.”

Abdelkader has come up through the ranks in Michigan, winning the Mr. Hockey award as a senior at Mona Shores High School in Muskegon before coming to MSU.

He was an Honorable Mention All-CCHA selection this season and was named the CCHA’s Best Defensive Forward.

He also was the recipient of the Ilitch Humanitarian Award for his work with the Shoot for a Cure program at MSU’s 2007-08 home games.

The Spartans (25-12-5) finished their season with a loss to Notre Dame in the NCAA regional championship in Colorado Springs, Colo. while the Red Wings are a Stanley Cup favorite, perched atop the standings of the Western Conference with a 52-21 record.

Published on Thursday, April 3, 2008