Justin Abdelkader
Justin Abdelkader was born in Muskegon, Michigan, United States on February 25th, 1987 and is the Hockey Player. At the age of 37, Justin Abdelkader biography, profession, age, height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, measurements, education, career, dating/affair, family, news updates, and networth are available.
At 37 years old, Justin Abdelkader has this physical status:
Justin Abdelkader (born February 25, 1987) is an American professional ice hockey left winger and alternate captain for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Personal life
Abdelkader is Joseph and Sheryl Abdelkader's son. Abdelkader is an Arabic surname. Yusuf Abdul Qadir, his paternal grandfather, migrated from Jordan to Muskegon, Michigan, where he married Zuzanna, a Polish woman. (Susie)
He attended Churchill Elementary School, Mona Shores Middle School, and graduated from Mona Shores High School in 2005. He was named to the all-state hockey squad and given the Mr. Hockey award, which is given to the best high school ice hockey player in Michigan. He competed for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the USHL during his senior season.
On December 18, 2015, Abdelkader earned his Bachelor of Arts in General Management from Michigan State's Eli Broad College of Business.
In November 2016, Abdelkader introduced Julie Leshkevich to his longtime girlfriend Julie Leshkevich at the Joe Louis Arena. The couple married on July 21, 2017, giving birth to their first child in September 2018.
Playing career
Abdelkader played for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the United States Hockey League during his senior year of high school, scoring 27 goals and 52 points and assisting the team in winning the 2004-05 Clark Cup Championship. He then began playing for the Michigan State Spartans' ice hockey team, which was then the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, for three years.
Abdelkader 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 awarding him the Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player award. With just 18.9 seconds remaining, he scored his first game-winning regulation goal in an NCAA Frozen Four championship game. Minnesota scored with 0.6 left to defeat North Dakota, a record that didn't exist before the 2014 Frozen Four.
In the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Abdelkader was drafted 42nd overall by the Detroit Red Wings.
Abdelkader signed a one-game amateur trial with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League on April 3, 2008, and he would play against the Columbus Blue Jackets that night. He forfeited his college eligibility for the 2008–2009 season in doing so. The following day, Abdelkader signed a three-year deal with the Detroit Red Wings. He appeared in one more game for Detroit this season. When Detroit defeated the Stanley Cup Abdelkader in June, he was a part of the team's celebration. He was on the team picture and was given a Stanley Cup Ring. In 2008, Abdelkader did not participate enough games to qualify for engravement on the Stanley Cup.
Abdelkader played 24 goals for the Grand Rapids Griffins in the 2008–09 season, and he was one of the team's top offensive players in the playoffs.
Abdelkader was called up to the Red Wings as the replacement for Tomá Kopeck, who missed Game 5 of the Western Conference semi-finals series against the Anaheim Ducks on May 8, 2009. "Because he'll run over people," Coach Mike Babcock told Abdelkader that he should replace Kopeck. We expect him to be physically demanding like Darren Helm. He's on the forecheck, and he's a physical man." Abdelkader scored his first game on an assist to Johan Franzén during the game.
In Game 1 of the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Abdelkader scored his first NHL goal against him on May 30, 2009. He took the rebound out of the air with his glove, dropped the puck, and defeated Marc-André Fleury's high stick side after shooting the puck. In the second game of the season, his second goal came nearly 24 hours later, off what commentators described as a "knuckle puck." He carried the puck alone against three Penguins defenders and fired a slapshot past Fleury. He became the first rookie to score in consecutive finals games since Dino Ciccarelli of Minnesota did it in 1981.
Abdelkader played 50 games for the Red Wings in 2009–10, scoring three goals and three assists, while still adding three assists. The Red Wings recalled Abdelkader on a two-year contract worth $1.575 million.
Abdelkader's first full NHL season as a Red Wing in the 2010–11 season. Abdelkader scored seven goals and gave 12 assists in 74 games, scoring seven goals and adding 12 assists.
He missed just one game in the 2011-2012 season and finished with eight goals and 14 assists in 81 games.
Abdelkader's four-year, $7.2 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings began on September 14, 2012.
Following Adam Brown's 1945 debut in a season opening home game, Abdelkader became the second player in the Red Wings history to score a hat trick in a season-opening home game on October 9, 2015. For the week ending October 12, 2015, Abdelkader was named the First Star of the Week. With four goals and tied for second place in the NHL with five points, he tied for second. The Red Wings announced on November 12, 2015 that Abdelkader had been given a seven-year contract extension.
The Red Wings released Abdelkader on waivers for the sole purpose of buying out the remaining three years of his deal on October 6, 2020. For the first time in his career, Abdelkader cleared waivers, making him a free agent.
Abdelkader joined EV Zug of the National League (NL) for the remainder of the 2020–21 season on February 3, 2021. In a 4-3 victory over Genève-Servette HC at the Patinoire des Vernets on February 23, 2021, he made his debut on February 23, 2021. Abdelkader won the 2021 NL crown with EV Zug, putting up 9 points (6 goals) in 13 playoffs matches.