Arber Xhekaj family

Arber Xhekaj is a Canadian defenceman for the Montreal Canadiens. He was undrafted but signed with the Canadiens in October 2021 after impressing at their training camp. Xhekaj started his hockey journey in minor leagues and junior teams like the St. Catharines Falcons and Kitchener Rangers. He also played with the Hamilton Bulldogs, winning the J. Ross Robertson Cup and earning a spot on the Memorial Cup All-Star Team.

Xhekaj made his NHL debut in 2022 and scored his first NHL goal and assist in his rookie season but was sidelined by a shoulder injury in February 2023. He returned for the 2023–24 season, briefly played in the AHL with the Laval Rocket, and later returned to the Canadiens. Xhekaj ended the season with three goals and seven assists in 44 NHL games. After being offered a qualifying offer, he signed a two-year contract extension in July 2024.

Arber Xhekaj Family Origin

According to the Montreal Gazette, Arber Xhekaj’s family has roots in different parts of Europe. His father, Jack, is of Albanian-Kosovar descent, while his mother, Simona, is from the Czech Republic. Both his parents came to Canada in the 1990s, seeking a better life, and they eventually met in Hamilton, Ontario.

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Who are Arber Xhekaj’s Parents?

According to the Montreal Gazette, Arber Xhekaj’s parents are Jack Xhekaj and Simona Xhekaj. They met in Hamilton.

Jack Xhekaj is an Albanian Kosovar who came to Canada in the 1990s seeking a better life. He works as a welder for National Steel Car in Hamilton, building trains. Jack is deeply proud of his heritage, celebrating Kosovo’s Independence Day, and often calls Arber on significant occasions.

Simona Xhekaj is from the Czech Republic and also immigrated to Canada in the 1990s. She works in a garage at Costco in Hamilton, where she changes tires. Arber once worked at the same Costco before his NHL career.

Arber Xhekaj’s siblings

According to the Montreal Gazette, Arber Xhekaj has three siblings: his younger brother, Florian Xhekaj, who was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Draft and currently plays for the Brantford Bulldogs in the OHL. He also has two sisters, Sophia and Dominika.

According to Elite Prospects, Florian Xhekaj is a 20-year-old left wing for the Laval Rocket in the AHL. He was born on June 27, 2004, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Florian was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the fourth round, 101st overall, in the 2023 NHL Draft. He signed a contract with the Canadiens that runs through the 2026-2027 season, with a cap hit of $866,667.

Florian began his career with the Hamilton Huskies U15 AAA team before moving on to the Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs U16 AAA and later playing for the Pelham Panthers in the GOJHL. He then joined the Hamilton Bulldogs in the OHL, where he played for two seasons (2022-2023).

During the 2023-2024 season, he was with the Brantford Bulldogs in the OHL, where he scored 34 goals and 31 assists in 63 games. He also played three games with the Laval Rocket in the AHL in 2023-2024. For the 2024-2025 season, he has a projected stats of 14 goals, 10 assists, and 24 points in 72 games.

Who is Arber Xhekaj’s Girlfriend?

According to the NHL, Arber Xhekaj's girlfriend is Stephanie Kielb, a Registered Dental Hygienist. They have been together since their high school days in Hamilton, Ontario. They met in Grade 8 and were part of the same friend group. Stephanie describes Arber as caring, humorous, and dedicated. She admires his humility and how he transitioned from being relatively unknown to a fan favorite with the Montreal Canadiens. In their free time, Arber enjoys working on cars, and Stephanie helps him with outfit ideas for game days. They are close with Arber's teammates, Kaiden Guhle and Juraj Slafkovský.

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