“I hate when he fights,” Simona Xhekaj says. “I additionally perceive that it’s a part of the game.”
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Simona Xhekaj doesn’t like watching her son Arber drop the gloves and struggle with the Canadiens.
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“I hate it,” Simona mentioned in a cellphone interview Thursday from her house in Hamilton, Ont. “I hate when he fights. I additionally perceive that it’s a part of the game. Clearly, he has good expertise and he’s not only a fighter. However I’m terrified for anyone who ever fights … I’m terrified for them.”
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Arber performed 51 video games as a rookie this season, posting 5-8-13 totals and 101 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-4, 238-pound defenceman had 9 fights and his season got here to an finish after struggling a shoulder damage in a struggle with the Edmonton Oilers’ Vincent Desharnais on Feb. 12 on the Bell Centre. The damage to Xhekaj’s proper shoulder required surgical procedure, however he’s anticipated to be prepared for coaching camp.
“It’s improbable,” Simona mentioned when requested about Arber’s rehab. “He’s doing extraordinarily nicely. He’s forward of his schedule.”
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Arber, 22, has rented his personal place in Hamilton for the low season.
“He requested me if I minded,” Simona mentioned. “He lives on his personal in Montreal. He’s right here day by day, but it surely offers him a bit little bit of privateness.
“He nonetheless comes right here to eat … that’s the issue,” Simona added with amusing.
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Simona is a health and diet fanatic — she works out 5 instances per week — and helps Arber along with his meal plans and preparation for the low season.
“He has the cash now to get a (meals) service, however he mentioned: ‘Mother, no person does it higher than you,’” Simona mentioned. “In order that form of offers me a bit increase to do it.
“He likes all types of eggs, omelettes,” Simona added. “He’s an excellent eater. No matter I prepare dinner for him he eats it.”
When Xhekaj began taking part in junior at age 16 he was solely 175 kilos. He began consuming six meals a day — together with understanding exhausting at a fitness center — to achieve weight. His mom cooked his meals.
Simona left the Czech Republic in 1996 searching for a greater life. She met her husband, Jack, in Hamilton after he had left Albania in 1994. The couple has 4 youngsters.
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Simona was requested what she’s most proud about of Arber as a son — not a hockey participant.
“I feel it’s his character,” she mentioned. “He’s such a sort human. That was at all times our purpose, it doesn’t matter what the youngsters do so long as they’re good people and provides again. Serving to others, that’s what’s actually vital to us. We got here (to Canada) with nothing and with out assist we wouldn’t be the place we are actually. So we at all times wish to ensure that the youngsters know the place they got here from and that they’re giving again to others.”
What’s one thing folks may be stunned to learn about Arber?
“I feel his sense of humour,” Simona mentioned. “He’s received a depraved sense of humour. I feel folks assume that he’s this severe man, a fighter and all the things. However he’s received an excellent sense of humour and he’s received an enormous coronary heart. He’s very, very sort and a really mellow individual. He’s very huggy, very affectionate. Folks may not see that facet of him.”
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Stu Cowan: Canadiens’ Arber Xhekaj discovered key classes from his mom
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Stu Cowan: Beefy Canadien Arber Xhekaj’s path to NHL paved with a fork
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