Michigan State University Athletics
Abdelkader Makes Mark On, Off Ice
6/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
June 4, 2009
Justin Abdelkader had more goals in the first three games of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs than Pittsburgh stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin combined. Hockey fans around the country are learning some things about Abdelkader that Michigan State fans knew all along - that the longtime Wings fan-turned-phenom can score big goals. As Abdelkader continues to rise in the ranks as a Red Wings prospect, there is much more - both on and off the ice - to his story. While Abdelkader is on his way to a promising NHL career, his off-ice endeavors in the Michigan State community will make him not only a fan favorite, but a role model for young athletes.
 Abdelkader celebrates his first goal as a Red Wing in game one of the Stanley Cup Finals  | |
Abdelkader has been a hot topic across the country since the Stanley Cup finals began on May 30, adding important, third-period insurance tallies in each of the Red Wings' 3-1 victories in Detroit. Not bad for a guy who played exactly four regular-season NHL games prior to this year's playoffs. Abdelkader spent the 2008-09 season - his first as a pro - honing his craft in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins, where he was the team's second-leading scorer (24-28-52) and led the team in playoff goals (six) before being eliminated by the Manitoba Moose. Once the season was over in Grand Rapids, he got the call to join the Wings during their second-round series. Abdelkader might have figured that he'd be a part of the "Black Aces" for the second straight season. However, due to the mounting injuries among the Wings regulars, he's now played in nine postseason games for the big club - more than twice the number of regular-season games he's seen action in since leaving MSU last spring.
Abdelkader's story might read like one of a charmed life. Named Michigan's Mr. Hockey after his junior season at Muskegon-Mona Shores in 2004, he followed the path of many aspiring hockey players and headed to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for a year in the United States Hockey League (USHL). Abdelkader helped the Rough Riders to a Clark Cup Championship that season, and also made his choice to play college hockey at Michigan State. A highly-touted recruit, he was selected 42nd overall in the second round of the 2005 NHL entry draft by the Red Wings.
 Abdelkader scored one of the biggest goals in school history - the game-winner in the 2007 NCAA Championship | |
Abdelkader's time at Michigan State was also dotted with significant achievements. He was a big part of helping the Spartans overcome an injury-riddled start to the 2005-06 season to go on a 17-2-4 streak in the second half and capture the CCHA Tournament title that spring. In January, he took a small break from the college game to compete for the U.S. at the IIHF World Junior Championships, where he helped the Americans to a bronze medal. Later that spring, Abdelkader scored what will long be remembered as one of the biggest goals in Michigan State history - a tally with 18.9 seconds remaining in regulation to break open a tie game against Boston College in the National Championship game. While his last season at MSU did not yield any hardware, the Spartans did compile a 25-12-5 record and returned to the NCAA Regional Finals. Shortly after returning with the team from the regional in Colorado, Abdelkader signed with the Red Wings, and trained with the team throughout their run to the Stanley Cup. His first year as a pro was a certain success, leading to his callup to the Red Wings for their attempt to defend their Stanley Cup title.
All of these accomplishments are certainly large, public successes. Another measure of Abdelkader is what he does off the ice - which is as impressive as his on-ice acumen.
Abdelkader was the 2008 winner of the CCHA's Mike and Marian Ilitch Humanitarian Award, which honors a conference player's involvement in his community. Abdelkader did his share of team and individual events at MSU: Teams for Toys, DARE graduations, American Heart Walk, Jump Start Your Heart, and Project Read at local elementary schools, among them. However, he truly made his mark by expanding on another impressive initiative started by a former teammate.
East Lansing native and current Anaheim Duck Drew Miller started the Spartan Buddies program in 2005, encouraging fellow MSU athletes to visit the pediatric ward at Sparrow Hospital. The hockey team took on this cause wholeheartedly, forging relationships with several patients throughout their visits. Moved in particular by a growing friendship with a local cancer patient (and lifelong Spartan fan), DeWitt's Brandon Gordon, Abdelkader created Shoot for a Cure, which raised money for children's cancer charities in addition to continuing their flourishing relationships with these children.
As Abdelkader and his teammates' relationship with Brandon and other children and their families grew, so too did the initiative. Launched in January 2008, the team raised $5,000 in the final three months of the 2007-08 hockey season. With a goal to double the financial success in 2008-09, Abdelkader continued to be a major contributor to the cause, even though he had left the MSU program. His donations back to the silent auctions ranged from an autographed jersey from Grand Rapids to signed pictures from the 2007 National Championship; signed hats from the Griffins' Breast Cancer Awareness night, and signed sticks all made their way to East Lansing. When the Stanley Cup made its visit to Spartan Stadium for the Notre Dame football game, both Brandon and James Stanley - two patients who had grown particularly close to the hockey program - donned Red Wings jerseys with Abdelkader's nameplate and number 8 to carry the Cup on the field before a capacity crowd.
By the end of hockey season in March, the Spartans' Shoot for a Cure initiative had raised an additional $15.000 - tripling the first-year effort and pushing the grand total to $20,000 in 15 months. While the initiative was raising both money and awareness for the plight of those affected by children's cancers, Abdelkader and Brandon's friendship continued to grow. Brandon frequently called Abdelkader and Spartan netminder Jeff Lerg on gamedays for a "pre-game pep talk." They spoke often about the two player's successes, the teams they were scheduled to play, the opponents Brandon felt they should look out for.
 Abdelkader and Brandon Gordon at the 2007 MSU Pro Camp | |
In February, just one week after Brandon's dream of playing hockey again came true - he dressed as a back-up goaltender for his high school team on Feb. 14 - the teenager took a sudden turn for the worse and lost his courageous two-year battle with osteosarcoma. The MSU hockey team took part in his funeral services at Munn Ice Arena, with Abdelkader and Lerg serving as casketbearers for their young fan and friend.
The relationship, however, did not end there. Abdelkader and Lerg continued with their generous donations for Brandon's Defense, the foundation that Brandon's mother, Julie Gordon, started in his honor. Perhaps the ongoing relationship is best illustrated in a passage written by Julie on Brandon's Caringbridge site after the NHL Stanley Cup Finals began:
"I thought about how much this means to Brandon to have the Red Wings in the fight for the Cup again, especially with Justin playing. Saturday morning I decided to text Justin for Brandon's pre-game pep talk. I wrote "good luck tonight, and remember B.G. is always with you... hugs, Julie & Marissa. He texted me back that he writes B.G. on his stick before every game and knows he is with him. I replied "for sure".
When Abs scored his first play-off goal Saturday night it's safe to say that I was incredibly excited! I was so happy for him... I actually felt like I did when Brandon scored a goal... I felt kinda like a hockey Mom again!
Without a doubt Brandon is extremely proud of Justin, as we all are. Today I got a chance to talk to Justin on the phone. I thanked him for the goals, for keeping Brandon with him, and for helping me to turn a very difficult day emotionally into one of the best nights that I have had in months."
As a Red Wing - and as a product of West Michigan, there is no doubt that Justin Abdelkader will have legions of fans to root on his burgeoning successes as a professional hockey player. There's also no doubt that Abdelkader helped foster even more fans through his selfless contributions to his community - and how he still touches the lives of those in the Michigan State University community with his generosity and spirit.
The fight against children's cancer is ongoing, and the Spartans have pledged to continue their fight. Those interested in making a donation to Shoot for a Cure can contact Angela Howard at howardan@sass.msu.edu; those interested in donating to Brandon's Defense can email Julie Gordon at gordonjl@comcast.net.
