Detroit Red Wings player Abdelkader to appear at RoughRiders game

CEDAR RAPIDS - Detroit Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader will be making a visit back to Cedar Rapids, appearing at the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders-Omaha Lancers game Saturday, Dec. 12 at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.

Abdelkader played for the RoughRiders in the 2004-05 season, helping the club win the Clark Cup championship. He played collegiately at Michigan State, scoring the winning goal in the 2007 national championship game.

A second-round draft pick of the Red Wings in 2005, Abdelkader has played 398 career National Hockey League games, scoring 61 goals and adding 71 assists.

He had a career-high 23 goals last season for Detroit.

The RoughRiders will hand out Abdelkader bobbleheads (in a Cedar Rapids jersey) to the first 1,000 fans through the doors Dec. 12. He will be honored in a pregame ceremony and sign autographs during the first period.