Arber Xhekaj is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Montreal Canadiens. He was initially undrafted and signed with Montreal as an unrestricted free agent in October 2021. Xhekaj made history by becoming the first player in NHL history with a surname starting with "X." In his debut season, Xhekaj scored five goals and eight assists and led the team in penalty minutes before being sidelined by a shoulder injury in February 2023.
Xhekaj returned to play in the 2023–24 season but faced another injury setback in November 2023. After spending some time in the AHL with the Laval Rocket, he was recalled to the Canadiens in January 2024. In total, Xhekaj played 44 games with Montreal, scoring three goals and seven assists, while also appearing in 17 AHL games. Following the season, he signed a two-year, $2.6 million contract extension with the Canadiens in July 2024.
Who is Arber Xhekaj’s girlfriend?
Arber Xhekaj’s girlfriend is Stephanie Kielb, according to the official website of the NHL. They met in Grade 8 and were in the same friend group.
Stephanie describes Arber as caring, funny, and humble. She admires his dedication as he became a fan favorite with the Canadiens. Arber enjoys working on cars in his shop and likes quiet vacations. Stephanie says he is good at impressions and helps him with game day outfits. They are close with Arber’s teammates, Kaiden Guhle and Juraj Slafkovský, who Stephanie says are like “goofball” brothers to him, as per the NHL's official website.
What does Stephanie Kielb do for a living?
Stephanie Kielb is a Registered Dental Hygienist, as per her Instagram bio.
Read More: Arber Xhekaj's contract
Stephanie Kielb’s Social Media
Stephanie Kielb's Instagram handle is @stephaniekielb. She has 21 posts, 2,838 followers, and is following 719 accounts, as of May 2025.
Read More: Arber Xhekaj's family
FAQs on Arber Xhekaj
A. Arber Xhekaj is 24 years old as of April 2025.
A. Arber Xhekaj was born on January 30, 2001.
A. Arber Xhekaj currently plays for the Montreal Canadiens.
A. Arber Xhekaj was undrafted.
A. Arber Xhekaj started his playing career in 2022.
