Hockey Club Lugano announces that it has signed US forward Justin Abdelkader (187cm x 97kg), born 25.02.1987 in Muskegon (Michigan), until the end of the season.
Drafted in the 2nd round in 2005 by the Detroit Red Wings and winner of the 2007 NCAA college championship in a Michigan State University jersey, Abdelkader made his NHL debut in the 2007/08 season.
Since then, for thirteen consecutive seasons, he has worn the colours of the Detroit Red Wings for a total of 803 games, 112 goals and 153 assists in the NHL.
In the last championship, he made a tangible contribution with his experience, leadership and technical and agonistic qualities to the Swiss title won by Zug, playing 22 games in the second phase of the season with the Swiss-central team, topped by 10 goals and 7 assists.
Abdelkader played three World Championships with the USA in 2012, 2014 (when he was captain) and 2021, when he won the bronze medal.
He also took to the track for a race with the star-studded national team at the recent Olympic Games in Beijing.
Married and father of two, Abdelkader will reach Ticino in the first days of next week and, as soon as the usual medical tests and permit procedure are completed, he will be available to Chris McSorley's staff.
These are the words of General Manager Hnat Domenichelli:
"Justin is an experienced forward who plays with energy and intensity. With his arrival our coaching staff will be able to count on five foreign attackers for the final part of the season'.