Arber Xhekaj is a Canadian defenseman for the Montreal Canadiens. 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’s Parents
Arber Xhekaj’s parents are Jack Xhekaj and Simona Xhekaj, as per the Montreal Gazette.
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, as per the Montreal Gazette.
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, as per the Montreal Gazette.
Arber Xhekaj Family Origin
Arber Xhekaj’s family has roots in different parts of Europe, as per the Montreal Gazette. His father, Jack, is of Albanian-Kosovar descent, while his mother, Simona, is from the Czech Republic. Both of his parents came to Canada in the 1990s, seeking a better life, and they eventually met in Hamilton, Ontario.
Read More: Arber Xhekaj's contract
Arber Xhekaj’s siblings
Arber Xhekaj has three siblings: his younger brother, Florian Xhekaj, who was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the 4th round of the 2022 NHL Draft and plays for the Brantford Bulldogs in the OHL, as of May 2025. He also has two sisters, Sophia and Dominika.
Florian Xhekaj is a 20-year-old left wing for the Laval Rocket in the AHL, according to Elite Prospects. He was born on June 27, 2004, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Florian was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the 4th 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 3 games with the Laval Rocket in the AHL in 2023-2024. In the 2024-2025 season, he scored 24 goals, 11 assists, and 35 points in 69 games.
Arber Xhekaj’s Girlfriend
Arber Xhekaj's girlfriend is Stephanie Kielb, as per the NHL's official website. 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. Kielb works as a registered Dental Hygienist, as per her Instagram bio.
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, as per the official website of the NHL.
Read More: Arber Xhekaj's girlfriend
FAQs on Arber Xhekaj
A. Arber Xhekaj was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
A. Arber Xhekaj is 6'4" (193 cm) tall.
A. Arber Xhekaj weighs 238 lbs (108 kg).
A. Arber Xhekaj plays as a defenseman.
A. Arber Xhekaj is 24 years old
