Justin Abdelkader: First Arab-American NHL Player

  Detroit Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader is the first Arab-American to play in the NHL. Detroit Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader is the first Arab-American to play in the NHL. There has been three Arab-Canadians to play in the NHL, but Abdelkader is the first American to play in the league and to also have an Arabic descent. Justin Abdelkader is the son of Joseph and Sheryl Abdelkader. The surname Abdelkader is Arabic. His paternal grandfather, Yusuf Abdul Qadir, a Muslim born in Palestine, emigrated from the Middle East country of Jordan at the age of 19 to Muskegon, where he later met a Polish girl named Susie. According to an article on www.wzzm13.com, Justin’s uncle, Jamal Abdelkader, said, “They (Yusuf and Susie) eventually fell in love and got married.” “My father died in 1993; my mom passed in March,2009, at age 91. She cooked Middle Eastern food and Polish food. She was equally good at making grape leaves, tabbouleh and pierogi.” Justin was selected by the Detroit Red Wings with the 42nd pick