Arber Debbie Ayres and Ken Busman have witnessed this scene many times.
“He really liked fighting!” confirms Ms. Ayres, the mother of the boarding family that hosted Xhekaj for three seasons, between 2018 and 2022, when he played for the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Junior League.
Like many of the teenagers they've paraded through the decade they've welcomed hockey players under their roof, the “sheriff” of the Canadiens organization was a fairly shy young man when he first walked through their doors.
Photo provided by Ken Busman
He was also very dedicated to ice hockey, Ms. Ayres and Mr. Busman say. After lunch, Xhekaj quickly left the family home and went to the arena, training, school and also to spend time in the gym.
Ignored in draft
Because Arber Xhekaj wanted to do more than the others. Not necessarily by choice: in fact, nothing ever seemed certain in his young career.
Before he was ignored by the 32 NHL teams in the draft, the defenseman was also ignored by those in the Ontario League. So he started taking power skating lessons.
Photo provided by Ken Busman
“He looked at everything he could improve,” says Ken Busman. His skating was part of it. When he arrived he was a good skater. After all, he played in the OHL!”
“But I think he was aware that he had to focus on it compared to the other players,” he adds, mentioning that this determination was undoubtedly instilled in him by his parents. And already in the second year the difference was noticeable.
Not just a tough guy
Debbie Ayres was quickly convinced of the young Arber's commitment.
“After the first year I told him, 'I'm your biggest fan.' You will make it to the NHL! I know you can do it and that you will succeed.”
“And I remember him smiling at me in response. He was a real character.”
Photo provided by Ken Busman
But even though he was happy to throw away his gloves anyway, Xhekaj wasn't just a tough guy. Both on the ice, where he sometimes amazed Mr. Busman with his stick handling that seemed to come out of nowhere, and at home.
Ken Busman and Debbie Ayres remember him as a family man who often praised the potential of his brother Florian – a fourth-round pick of the Canadiens – whom he said was more talented than him.
Important photo
He was also a gregarious guy who enjoyed chatting with the couple's four children when they came to the family home for dinner. And a “prankster” with an “excellent repartee”.
“He had a sensitive side,” Ms. Ayres said. While he was with us, our dog died and we got a puppy. And my God, he loved that puppy [nommé Addy] ! I have a picture of him holding the puppy in his huge hands and the puppy was so small in there (see above).”
Arber Xhekaj with Debbie Ayres, the mother of the boarding school family. Photo provided by Ken Busman
In addition, Ken Busman describes this meeting between Arber and Addy as the fondest memory of the three years he spent as host.
“It was beautiful to see that side of him. “Mostly because he hid it because he wanted to be the tough guy,” he explains.
“I miss our friendship”
Mr. Busman and Mrs. Ayres no longer have any real contact with the thug for whom time has passed. But they continue to follow everything he does on and off the ice, including the promotional campaigns he takes part in, even though they are big fans of the…Toronto Maple Leafs.
“We have an island in our kitchen and what I loved was when he sat down and we chatted for an hour while I prepared the meal,” smiles Debbie Ayres. It was nice just talking to him.”
“I would like to talk to him more, I miss our friendship,” she continues. He is my favorite player of all time. We are proud of him.”
The anecdote of the broken mixer
Photo Getty Images via AFP
We suspect it takes a lot of food to grow a colossus like Arber
“Oh my god, yes! I couldn’t provide care at first!” says Debbie Ayres, laughing.
“He ate for two or three people,” adds her husband, Ken Busman.
At that time, the future sheriff of the Canadian organization's diet consisted mainly of carbohydrates and proteins. Especially lots of protein shakes.
So much so that Xhekaj ended up destroying his family's pension mixer because he prepared it so much.
“We were stuck with an injured mixer for a while,” laughs Ms. Ayres.