The Xhekaj brothers wear their hearts on their sleeves – on and off the ice

Steven Ellis
Steven Ellis
The Xhekaj brothers wear their hearts on their sleeves – on and off the ice
Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

Arber Xhekaj was in the middle of getting a haircut when his phone messages started to blow up.

It was just after 12:30 PM on June 29, 2023. For Montreal Canadiens defenseman Xhekaj, it was just a normal Thursday during the NHL offseason.

And then his phone started to blow up. He had a new teammate: his brother, Florian Xhekaj.

The Canadiens selected the younger Xhekaj with the 101st pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. They were finally teammates for the first time in their careers.

“I was sitting there getting my hair cut, and I told my barber that the draft was on and should put it on in case Florian got picked soon,” Arber said. “So we turned the TV on and it went to commercial and my phone started buzzing. I couldn’t grab it.

“Then it started buzzing again, and I thought it was weird. I looked at the TV and saw he got picked up by Montreal and we all started freaking out. I just threw the towel off and we all just started going nuts in there. It was a pretty special moment.”

Meanwhile, Florian was in a gym practising with a few of his Brantford Bulldogs teammates. His trainer had his laptop open watching the draft, with a few players checking in every so often.

“My agent told me to keep my phone on me just in case,” said Florian, who was passed over in 2022. “I started doing the workout, and then I quickly got a call from my agent. He said, ‘Congratulations, you just got selected by Montreal.’ It was surreal. I didn’t know how to react.”

It was a magical moment for the family, especially since Arber never got selected. It was extra special to see Florian taken by the same team that held his brother’s rights.

Arber Xhekaj emerged as an instant fan favorite in Montreal. The undrafted free agent fought his way up the ranks to become an everyday NHL contributor this past season. He was never a crazy offensive threat in major junior – but he was tough as nails and challenging to shut down. The 22-year-old made the Canadiens out of training camp and would put up 13 points and 101 penalty minutes in 51 games before requiring season-ending shoulder surgery. He’ll be back in time for 2023-24, but it was a disappointing end for a player willing to lay everything on the line for his teammates.

Meanwhile, Florian, 19, is fresh off of his first year with the Bulldogs. Like Arber, Florian took his time to get noticed, playing in Jr. B for a couple of years. The 6-foot-2 forward brought a lot of that same tenacity and fire to his game that Arber did, with his physical, pro-style game putting him on the radar of NHL scouts across the league. Like Arber, scouts loved his willingness to put himself in front of the fire to make things happen, and his teammates appreciated that.

And that mindset of wanting to help out in any way possible extends way beyond the ice.

Lisette Kingo with Arber Xhekaj

The Xhekaj brothers are ambassadors for The Angel Project, a Canadian charity founded in 2008 by Lisette Kingo. The group focuses on providing hospitals and its patients important tools, such as customized wheelchairs, special lounges, electronics and much, much more. People that have benefited from the charity include those dealing with paralysis, families who sacrificed so much to help their children during health crises, patients in palliative care and so much more.

The Angel Project has a big tie to hockey, with Doug Gilmour acting as an ambassador, among others. Mikael Kingo, Lisette’s son, founded the Goalie Giveaway program to raise money for young goaltenders who can’t afford equipment, giving them a chance to play. Mikael himself is a two-time OJHL Humanitarian of the year winner and currently plays with the Georgetown Raiders.

The Xhekaj’s have been involved in the Angel Project for a few years now. Their mom, Simona, is a volunteer herself. With her help, the brothers have put a focus on giving back to the community.

“Our mom is a special person,” Florian said. “She’s super caring and loving for everyone. When we met the Kingos 5-6 years ago, she kicked it off with Lisette… she was always asking how to help out. She’s always super supportive. And when the opportunity came around for us, she was there to push us to do it and it’s been amazing.”

It’s typical for young hockey players to partner with charities as part of their major junior team’s off-ice programs. But the Xhekajs are committed to making the world a better place for those in need. Arber said he’d like to have his own charity one day.

“We’re big believers in giving back,” Arber said. “I’m fortunate enough now to have a little bit to give back, and can use myself as a brand ambassador (for The Angel Project).”

Together, the brothers go to events put on by the organization, while also helping to raise money for patients and other hockey players in need.

The experiences help bring them closer off the ice, and, before long, they could play together on the ice together for the first time. There’s a three-year age gap between Arber and Florian, so they’ve never played competitive hockey together. They’ll skate together in the summer, but that’s about it. So if they end up skating together on the same team in the future, it’ll come at the highest step of the hockey ladder: the NHL, and, if all goes well, with one of the biggest franchises in the world.

But the Xhekajs know there’s more to life than scoring goals and settling scores. They take great pride in helping out a charity they believe in, and that’s why those that know them describe them as having big hearts.

Both have a penchant for throwing punishing bodychecks with inhuman strength. But off the ice, they’re just a couple of teddy bears hoping to make a difference in the lives of those who need help.

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