SPOTLIGHT: Arber Xhekaj
What a difference a year makes.
After signing with the Rangers as a free agent coming out of last summer’s training camp, defenceman Arber Xhekaj has become a pillar of strength on the blueline in 2019.
“My first year was pretty tough because I was put on a shorter leash compared to the second, third, and fourth-year guys,” Xhekaj said of his rookie campaign.
“Going into my second year, it’s been easier to adapt to the game.”
His self-assessment is pretty accurate. He has also proven the organization correct in its belief that he could provide a valuable physical element on the ice along with good decision-making as a puck handler.
Through 21 games this year, Xhekaj sits second on the team with 33 penalty minutes (after having just 39 in 59 games in 2018/19). He is also tied for fifth on the team in plus/minus with a +3.
Adding more grit to his game and being tougher to play against overall is the result of having confidence with the puck.
“I think that I have pretty good skill but, when it comes down to it, I had to believe in myself to use it,” he said.
The lessons he’s learned from assistant coach – and former NHL defenceman – Dennis Wideman have been invaluable to that evolution.
“Dennis always seems to come up with something new to share to improve my game,” the Hamilton native said.
Having established himself as a solid stay-at-home defender, the conversation around Xhekaj has shifted more to talking about his game instead of his unique last name (pronounced JACK-eye). He’s pretty used to the latter though.
“Every year, I’ve been last on the attendance list at school and my teachers have constantly asked how to pronounce my name,” he said with a laugh, adding, “I actually think it’s cool though because, as far as I know, I’m the first player in the OHL to have a last name that begins with an X.”
Back home, his friends call him “Arbs” but when he first arrived in Kitchener, teammates called him “X” or “X-Man”.
“It’s changed to “Al” though since Wideman gave me that name,” he said of the homage to Hall of Fame NHL Coach Al Arbour.
While he can thank his Albanian father for his surname, Xhekaj is officially a dual citizen of Canada and the Czech Republic due to his mother’s heritage.
The 18-year-old usually travels to the country every couple of summers and could easily see himself playing there professionally or representing the nation on the world stage if the opportunity ever presented itself.
“Obviously, the goal is to play in the NHL but, when it comes down to it, I need to have backup options and definitely wouldn’t mind that,” he said.
“I don’t really see myself working in an office setting, so I’m going to do whatever it takes to play pro somewhere.”
Playing for the Czech Republic would be an especially big moment of pride for his mom, but the spontaneous decision to get a tattoo last year didn’t go over quite as well.
“I ended up calling her before I got the first piece of an arm sleeve and she wasn’t too happy about the idea,” he recalled.
“I tried drawing something else that wasn’t too noticeable so that she would be more comfortable with it, so that kind of helped.”
He settled on an arrow with the word “mom” running alongside it.
“I look up to my mom a lot. She’s just such a strong woman,” Xhekaj said of the final design’s inspiration.
And even though it’s on a slightly different level, he’s also been inspired by his team’s ability to pull through some early-season adversity.
“I think we’re doing a pretty solid job of sticking together,” he said as the team heads into Friday’s game looking for its eighth win in a row.
“We’re all hanging out together away from the rink and staying positive.”
