Arber Xhekaj revealed what he ate during his time in the OHL, and it's simply astonishing

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Julien Trekker
September 4, 2023 (3:54 PM)

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Arber Xhekaj's journey to the NHL is possibly one of the most incredible stories for the Montreal Canadiens last year. The 22-year-old defenseman, who was working at Costco to make ends meet just a few months ago, was never drafted into the OHL. However, he still managed to secure a spot on the Kitchener Rangers' roster before being traded to the Hamilton Bulldogs, where he saw rapid growth.

Despite three strong seasons in the junior leagues, establishing himself as potentially the toughest defenseman in the circuit, all 32 NHL teams chose to overlook him in the draft. However, the young player didn't get discouraged and continued to develop. The Canadiens eventually sent him an invitation to training camp, where he quickly stood out, earning his first professional contract. A few months later, Arber Xhekaj received confirmation that he would start the season with the main team, officially making his debut in the NHL.

However, in an interview with Stu Cowan, he admitted that during the 2020-2021 season (which was canceled due to Covid), he completely transformed his diet to become the imposing 6'4", 238-pound defenseman he is today. In fact, Xhekaj ate more than six meals a day to continue growing and gaining muscle mass.

"It was a big year for me because I was training a lot and had a stable schedule. My mom cooked all my meals. I would eat a bowl of oatmeal and a smoothie when I got up before heading to the gym. When I got home, I ate two more breakfasts. I got back from the gym and ate my 6 or 7 eggs plus the breakfast my mom had prepared for the rest of the family. She made something different every day. I would then take a nap and upon waking up, eat another meal before going to train on the ice. When I got back, I would eat yet another meal. It was always good, healthy food that my mom prepared for me, and it was really good. When hockey resumed and I moved in with my host family, they thought I had gone crazy!" - Arber Xhekaj

Wow! That's completely astonishing!

Now we understand why the Montreal Canadiens' defenseman is possibly the best fighter in the NHL and why he crushes his opponents on the ice. It's worth noting that when he arrived in the OHL, Xhekaj weighed only 175 pounds; he has thus added nearly 65 pounds in just three years.

One thing is for sure, we are eager to see him back in the Canadiens' uniform this season, as he should have an even more significant role in Martin St-Louis' lineup.

Credit: Habsolumentfan