Justin Abdelkader is officially an Olympian.

After starting as an alternate for the Team USA roster at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, the Muskegon native got the call to suit up in time for the tournament opening contest against host country China.

A product of Mona Shores High, Abdelkader was staying in shape this season while keeping an eye out for an opportunity to keep playing. After concluding his time with his hometown Detroit Red Wings in 2019-2020, he played for EV Zug in the Swiss pro league last year before serving as captain for Team USA at the IIHF World Championship. 

The 2004 Mr. Hockey winner - he posted a remarkable 80 points in 28 games - signed a professional tryout agreement with the Grand Rapids Griffins on Jan. 21. He appeared in three AHL contests with Grand Rapids before joining the taxi squad for the Olympics - a unique opportunity the International Olympic Committee signed off on due to COVID-19 dynamics at play for the participating countries.

Abdelkader found himself in the line-up Thursday, donning the Red, White and Blue on sport’s greatest stage in a 8-0 win over China. He recorded one assist and one penalty in the victory, which, ironically, came against Dearborn native Jeremy Smith in net for China. Abdelkader skated against fellow Michigan State alum Jake Chelios in the game, as the strange 2022 Olympics only get stranger (a KHL roster made up the majority of the Chinese roster). 

After his time at Mona Shores, Abdelkader lived out a dream of any high school hockey player. He played one year of USHL hockey with the Cedar Rapids Roughriders, and at the conclusion of the season, he was drafted by the Red Wings in the second round of the 2005 NHL Draft. From there, he spent three seasons in East Lansing, leading Michigan State to the NCAA national title in 2007; he was named tournament MVP after scoring the game-winning goal in the championship game against Boston College with just seconds remaining in regulation.

Abdelkader also played for Team USA at the World Juniors; he would suit up for the American roster in the World Championship four total times.