July 30, 2005

OTTAWA, Ont. - Incoming Michigan State hockey freshman Justin Abdelkader (Muskegon, Mich.) was selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round (No. 42 overall) of the 2005 National Hockey League Entry Draft on Saturday, July 30. In addition to Abdelkader, freshman Tim Crowder (Victoria, B.C.) was selected in the fifth round (No. 126 overall) by the Pittsburgh Penguins, while Tim Kennedy (Buffalo, N.Y.) was selected in the sixth round (No. 181 overall) by the Washington Capitals. This year's draft was held in Ottawa, Ontario, and featured a total of seven rounds.

Abdelkader, a 6-1, 195-lb. forward, was a member of the Cedar Rapids Rough Riders of the United States Hockey League in 2004-05. He registered 52 points (27 goals, 25 assists) in 60 games to rank third on the squad in scoring and tied for 16th among the USHL scoring leaders. His 27 goals tied the team record for goals in a season. He played in the 2005 USHL All-Star game and led Cedar Rapids to the Clark Cup Championship.

He was selected Mr. Hockey 2004 after tallying 80 points (37 goals, 43 assists) in 28 games for Muskegon Mona Shores High School in 2003-04. A member of the 2004 Dream Team and an all-state selection, he helped lead Mona Shores to the Division 2 state final.

Abdelkader participated in the USA Hockey Select-17 Festival in St. Cloud, Minn., in July 2004, where he tied for the festival lead in goals with five in six games while playing for Team Michigan.

He is the first Spartan to be drafted by the Red Wings since Bart Turner was picked in 1991.

Crowder, a 6-2, 180-lb. forward, has played in the British Columbia Hockey League for the last three years. He began the 2004-05 season with the Victoria Salsa, before being traded to the South Surrey Eagles at the trade deadline. In 56 regular-season games, he compiled 23 goals and 27 assists for 50 points. He recorded seven power-play markers among his 23 goals and also tallied 30 penalty minutes. In 16 playoff games, he ranked tied for seventh among the BCHL playoff scoring leaders with 15 points (three goals, 12 assists).

Prior to South Surrey, Crowder spent the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons with Powell River Kings. He posted 21 goals and 34 assists for 55 points in 57 games in 2003-04, while he recorded six goals and six assists for 12 points in 52 games in 2002-03.

Crowder is the first Spartan to be drafted by the Penguins since Brian Clifford in 1991.

Kennedy, a 5-11, 170-lb. forward, skated for the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League from 2003-05. He paced the team in scoring with 61 points (30 goals, 31 assists) and 112 penalty minutes in 54 games in 2004-05. His 61 points placed him tied for sixth among the USHL scoring leaders. The 2005 All-USHL Second-Team honoree led the league with 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in this year's playoffs. He was selected as the team's MVP and Top Offensive Player as well as participating in the 2005 USHL All-Star game.

In 2003-04, he recorded nine goals and 10 assists for 19 points in 56 games en route to earning the team's Rookie of the Year award.

Kennedy becomes the first Spartan to be drafted by the Capitals since Jason Woolley was selected in the third round (No. 61 overall) of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft.

A total of 92 current and former Spartans have been selected in the NHL's last 32 entry and supplemental drafts. Over the last 17 years, 19 Spartans have been chosen in the first two rounds of the NHL Entry Draft.