Famous in professional ice hockey, Arber Xhekaj is renowned for his extraordinary defensive abilities. His talent and tenacity brought him to the attention of the Montreal Canadiens, who signed him as a free agent despite his lack of draft selection.
With his aggressive play style and willingness to stand up for his teammates, Xhekaj immediately won over fans. He combines skill and tenacity to make him an invaluable player on the rink.
Arber Xhekaj Nationality
Arber Xhekaj is a Canadian. The 22-year-old Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj has emerged as a formidable player on the ice, going by the moniker “The Sheriff” due to his intimidating and fearless demeanor.
Xhekaj was born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. His immigrant parents served as inspiration for his tenacious road to the NHL.
The origins of Xhekaj can be traced to his father, Arber (Jack), a Kosovo refugee who came to Toronto in the 1990s.
His father was a welder in Hamilton who faced the difficulties of beginning over. Because Simona, Xhekaj’s mother, is from the Czech Republic, the enforcer for the Canadiens has a distinct heritage.
Arber Xhekaj’s parents gave him a strong work ethic and the will to overcome obstacles when he was growing up in Hamilton. They underlined the significance of the principles that served as Xhekaj’s compass on his path to the NHL.
Brendan Kelly of the Montreal Gazette reports that Arber Xhekaj stated:
“It definitely comes from my parents. They came here with nothing. My dad came here with maybe two dollars in his pocket and started a life and created a family. He’s worked hard for everything he’s got and they always reminded us where they came from and how their life was back home, so we knew we were truly fortunate to get what we had.”
Arber Xhekaj’s Early Life
Arber Xhekaj is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was born on January 30, 2001. Initially, he was not selected by any of the National Hockey League teams, and in October 2021, he signed with Montreal as an unrestricted free agent.
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Arber Xhekaj’s Player Career
Xhekaj was not taken in the 2017 OHL Priority Selection draft due to his trim physique while playing minor hockey with the Hamilton Huskies of Alliance Hockey. He considered being one of two eligible players on his squad who were not drafted “pretty tough.” His parents urged him to keep playing hockey despite his thoughts.
The Kitchener Rangers scouting crew saw Xhekaj while he played for the St. Catharines Falcons of the GOJHL. In 2018, the Rangers invited Xhekaj to training camp despite not drafting him in his second year. The 2020–21 OHL season was canceled because of the COVID-19 epidemic.
Xhekaj was invited to the Montreal Canadiens training camp before the 2021–22 NHL season after being passed over in the 2020 and 2021 NHL drafts. On October 4, 2021, the Canadiens signed undrafted free agent Xhekaj to a three-year, entry-level contract after his performance impressed management.
By the start of the 2021–22 season, Xhekaj had become a dangerous defenseman who “effectively blended the old-school enforcer with the modern-day defensive blueliner.” A slew foot and a post-fight gesture had him suspended twice in the fall.
His teammates called him “the Sheriff.” Xhekaj was traded to his hometown Hamilton Bulldogs midyear. Xhekaj played in the 2022 Memorial Cup and J. Ross Robertson Cup with the highly-touted Bulldogs. The Saint John Sea Dogs defeated the Bulldogs in the Memorial Cup final. The Memorial Cup All-Star Team included Xhekaj.
Arber Xhekaj’s Professional Career
Xhekaj was initially expected to play for the Canadiens’ AHL club, the Laval Rocket, during summer training, but he excelled in rookie tournament and preseason play. The Ottawa Senators’ fans noticed his aggressive preseason play.
He replied, “When their whole Sens Nation is talking about me, it’s pretty good. I like being the bad guy.” Veteran Canadiens left defensemen Mike Matheson and Joel Edmundson were injured, creating openings for newcomers.
Xhekaj was confirmed for the Canadiens’ opening night roster on October 10, 2022. Xhekaj became the first NHL player with an X surname when he debuted on October 12.
His first NHL point was an assist against the Washington Capitals on October 15. In his NHL debut, Xhekaj defeated Arizona Coyotes forward Zack Kassian, a notable pugilist.
On October 22, Xhekaj scored his first NHL goal and added an assist in a 5–2 loss to the Dallas Stars. His teammates called Xhekaj “Wi-Fi” because his lengthy surname resembled an internet router’s default password.
Xhekaj’s rookie season he was ended on February 12, 2023, with a shoulder injury. He led the Canadiens with 101 penalty minutes, five goals, and eight assists in 51 games.
