Arber Xhekaj

Arber Xhekaj (pronounced , , born January 30, 2001) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman. He currently plays for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is known by the nickname "Wi-Fi" because of his Albanian surname being similar to the default password of an internet router. He is the first NHL player to have a surname beginning with X.

Career
Before playing in the NHL, Xhekaj played parts of 3 seasons with the Kitchener Rangers and 1 season with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He was praised for his defensive ability during his time with the Rangers.

He was not drafted by an NHL team. On October 4, 2021, Xhekaj signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Montreal Canadiens. On October 12, 2022, Xhekaj made his NHL debut in a 4-3 season-opening win against the Toronto Maple Leafs. On October 15, he recorded his first NHL point, assisting on a Nick Suzuki goal in a 3-1 loss against the Washington Capitals. On October 22, Xhekaj scored his first NHL goal in a 5-2 loss against the Dallas Stars.

On July 30, 2024, Xhekaj signed a two-year, $2.6 million contract to remain with the Canadiens.

References

 Other websites 

Category:2001 births
Category:Living people
Category:Ice hockey people from Ontario
Category:Montreal Canadiens players
Category:Sportspeople from Hamilton, Ontario