Habs prospect Xhekaj looks to cap magical season with Memorial Cup title

SPORTSCENTRE Reporter

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With no Ontario Hockey League season in 2020-21, Arber Xhekaj ended up working at Costco. 

"I was a cart guy. I was a cashier. I was all over the place," he said. "I didn't go overseas like some of the other guys. I was just working. I was working at Costco and training every day." 

The undrafted defenceman could never imagine what would happen when he finally resumed his hockey career. The Hamilton, Ont. native parlayed an invitation to Montreal Canadiens rookie camp into a trip to training camp and then an NHL contract. 

"He's an incredible story," said Hamilton Bulldogs president and general manager Steve Staios. "A kid who was never drafted in the OHL and signed as a free agent with the Canadiens. The heart and soul of this kid is incredible. His ability to work through adversity is just incredible."

The Canadiens have agreed to terms on a three-year, two-way contract with defenseman Arber Xhekaj.#GoHabsGohttps://t.co/gfyrHR1VaF

The Bulldogs acquired Xhekaj from the Kitchener Rangers in a January trade. The 6-foot-4, 204-pound blueliner finished the regular season with 34 points and 138 penalty minutes in 51 games. He then added 16 points and 50 penalty minutes in 18 playoff games while helping the Bulldogs win the OHL championship.   

"Arber's a strong, physical presence, to say the least, but has so many more elements to his game," said Staios, who played 18 seasons in the NHL. "He moves pucks up. He plays on our power play. He can play on our penalty kill. He can play in all situations."

And now the 21-year-old gets to play in the Memorial Cup, which starts on Monday when Hamilton faces the host Saint John Sea Dogs. 

"It's super hard to take in, because everything's happened