Abdelkader (Mona Shores) vs. DeKeyser (De La Salle) Friday at Ford Field
DETROIT -- Oh, sure, they're friends and teammates now, but that all changes Friday.
Justin Abdelkader went to Muskegon Mona Shores High School and Danny DeKeyser went to Warren De La Salle.
The two teams square off in the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 football championship game Friday at 1 p.m. at Ford Field.
It'll be the first finals appearance for the Muskegon Mona Shores Sailors and the third for the Warren De La Salle Pilots.
What are the odds of two professional hockey teammates having their high schools face off in a championship game?
"I think this is pretty rare, rather unique," DeKeyser said. "It's pretty cool."
"It's pretty slim," Abdelkader said. "I didn't know Danny went to De La Salle until the semifinals and found out they had a chance to play each other. It's pretty neat. They've been in the finals and this is our first trip."
The two put on their teams' football jerseys in the Wings' dressing room the other day, gamely posing for photos.
But Abdelkader couldn't resist needling DeKeyser.
"You never played football," Abdelkader said. "Don't pretend like you did."
It's true, DeKeyser never played football.
"I kind of wanted to get into it, but hockey takes up so much of your time. I kind of just stuck with that," DeKeyser said.
However, Abdelkader did play football for Mona Shores as a freshman and sophomore.
"I was the quarterback," Abdelkader said. "It's a different game than hockey was for me. A lot of my buddies played. I started in seventh grade.
"It was fun, different. There's 11 guys at once, so instead of having five and a goalie there was 11, everyone has to perform to be successful."
But there was a reason why Abdelkader decided to focus on hockey.
"First year, we ran more of a veer option," Abdelkader said. "Second year, we ran spread, so we threw the ball more. I enjoyed both. I enjoyed running the ball, but I enjoyed passing, too.
"It got tough passing the ball as the weather changed. I remember one game when it was raining, I threw like four interceptions."
DeKeyser doesn't really know anyone at his old school anymore, but Abdelkader still has some ties.
"A lot of families I know from around there, I still spend my summers there," Abdelkader said. "My sister teaches at the middle school there, so she knows what's going on. And my parents are around it, just living in the district. It's really exciting."
DeKeyser and Abdelkader can't attend the game in person because they have to play in New Jersey Friday night, but they'll be getting updates from family and friends.
They also hadn't decided earlier in the week on a suitable wager, but perhaps something will come to them on the plane to New Jersey Thursday evening.
