Abdelkader’s return to Cedar Rapids a special one

CEDAR RAPIDS — Justin Abdelkader just signed a seven-year contract extension that all but guarantees he'll retire with the only National Hockey League club he's ever known.

That $28 million extension all but guarantees financial security the rest of his life. Let's just say the Detroit Red Wings forward can afford to eat at any world class restaurant he chooses.

Interestingly, though, upon his return to Cedar Rapids for the first time in 11 years Saturday afternoon, Abdelkader, his mother, father and girlfriend picked up late lunch at ... Zio Johno's Spaghetti House.

After all, it is a place where you can get so much good for so little, as the restaurant's old slogan said.

'That was a popular spot for me here,' Abdelkader said. 'I went there a lot with my teammates.'

What a great night all around at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena, if you take out the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders having their seven-game win streak snapped by Omaha, 4-1. The Lancers scored twice on the power play and never trailed in the game.

Rather unbelievably, Abdelkader took time out in the middle of the always chaotic NHL schedule to come back to a place he played the 2004-05 season. The Red Wings played Friday night at New Jersey, he flew back to Detroit with the team in the wee hours, then hopped on another plane Saturday to Cedar Rapids.

Abdelkader, 28, signed autographs for fans, a ton of them. The line to meet him stretched well around the Ice Arena concourse pregame and had to be 500 people deep at one point.

Then he came back between the first and second periods to sign again.

The RoughRiders gave out 1,000 of his bobbleheads and honored him in a pregame ceremony as the first member of their hall of fame. They played a then-and-now video/photo montage of him on their scoreboard, introduced him to the crowd of 2,400 and presented him with a glass RoughRiders horse.

'You know, it's important to me,' Abdelkader said. 'This was a huge part of my career, a huge part of why I'm where I'm at today. It's great that Mark Carlson is still here and is still the coach. I've kept in touch with him and his family since I left.

'It's a big honor to be inducted into their hall of fame, the first one. I'm just honored and excited to come back.'

Abdelkader was part of C.R.'s only Clark Cup championship club. Teammates included fellow current NHLers Alec Martinez of the Los Angeles Kings, Teddy Purcell of the Edmonton Oilers and Alex Stalock of the San Jose Sharks.

He went on to play three years at Michigan State before turning pro. A Muskegon, Mich., native, the one year in Cedar Rapids is the only one he has played organized hockey outside of his home state.

Abdelkader played prep hockey in Muskegon and in the minor-league American Hockey League with the Grand Rapids Griffins. He has 428 NHL games to his credit with Detroit.

'That's truly amazing when you think back,' he said. 'Maybe when I'm done playing, I can take a look back at it a bit. It's been something that's very unique. I've been very fortunate to play in front of my family and friends, being so close to home for a lot of games.'

Abdelkader scored a career-high 23 goals last season for the Wings and has 10 goals in 30 games this season. He is considered a top two-way forward, which means his value isn't strictly tied to goal scoring.

Abdelkader toured the city Saturday, including stopping by Kennedy High School, where he graduated. He was able to catch up with his billet family here as well.

He spoke to the RoughRiders in their locker room before the game, telling them how important the USHL was to his development and reminding them not to look too far ahead in their careers. Concentrate on the present.

'The year here made me grow up real quick, being away from home and living with a billet family,' he said. 'We just had a great group of guys here that came from all over, including a couple of guys from overseas. I just tried to take my game to another level here. I faced a lot better competition than I did in high school.'

Then he added one other thing.

'I can't believe it's been 11 years since I've been here,' he said.

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