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Arber Xhekaj's mom Simona makes her feelings known after younger son Florian's 5-point game for Laval Rocket

Modified Dec 16, 2024 13:08 GMT

Habs defenseman Arber Xhekaj’s brother, Florian Xhekaj, had a night to remember on Sunday, scoring three goals and providing two assists for the Laval Rocket. His effort earned him the first-star honors, and his family couldn’t be prouder.

His mother, Simona Xhekaj, took to X to share her excitement and mentioned being proud of her younger son. She quote-tweeted a post from the Rocket and wrote:

“Every player needs game like this 💯 Unfortunately, mom was on duty at tire shop, but was able to watch on replay. Very proud of our deputy 👌🥰.”

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Florian, 20, was drafted in the fourth round by the Canadiens in 2023. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound forward had an impressive season with the Brantford Bulldogs in the OHL, scoring 34 goals and 65 points in 63 games. He signed a three-year, $2.6 million entry-level contract and joined the AHL’s Laval Rocket last season.

Meanwhile, his brother Arber Xhekaj became a fan favorite with the Canadiens last season. He has earned nicknames like "Wi-Fi" and "Big X" for his rugged playing style. The 23-year-old defenseman has recorded four assists and a plus-minus of -7 in 27 games this season.

Arber Xhekaj believes his younger brother will 'surprise a lot of people'

Earlier this summer, Arber Xhekaj described Florian as “a beast” during an interview on the "Spittin’ Chiclets" podcast. The two were on the same preseason camp team and spent a good deal of time together on the ice.

“He’ll surprise a lot of people,” Arber said. “He had to fight me his whole life growing up. It will be interesting to see what he does.” [H/T Montreal Gazette]

At camp, Florian was asked if opponents might challenge him because of his brother’s reputation as a tough player. Before Florian could respond, Arber jumped in with a laugh:

“Nobody’s going to test him, because I’m going to be there.”

He also shared how proud he is of Florian, saying he handled himself well in the OHL despite people constantly comparing him to his older brother.

Florian responded confidently, saying he’s always ready for a challenge and won’t back down. He mentioned that even when Arber moved on from the OHL, other players were already testing him, so he’s used to handling himself in tough situations.

The brothers’ parents, Jack and Simona, live in Hamilton. They made major sacrifices to support their sons’ hockey careers. Arber shared that Jack worked as a welder, and Simona changed tires at Costco while pouring all their money into hockey expenses like travel and hotels.

To give back, Arber used his signing bonus to buy new appliances for their home, and this summer, the brothers gifted their dad a Mercedes-Benz as a thank-you for everything he did.