Arber Xhekaj saves a man's life during off-ice emergency

The Arber Xhekaj is known for delivering huge hits and protecting teammates on the ice, but a new report suggests he played a far more important role away from hockey earlier this week in Montreal.

According to a report from Dans les coulisses, Xhekaj and his brother Florian Xhekaj were walking near the Lachine Canal between Games 3 and 4 of the playoff series against the Buffalo Sabres when they witnessed a terrifying scene unfold.

A person had reportedly attempted to take their own life by jumping into the canal.

Several bystanders witnessed the situation, but according to the report, Xhekaj immediately stepped in to help. While there are still missing details surrounding the incident, sources claim the Canadiens defenseman approached the water and quickly called 911 before assisting police and emergency responders at the scene.

The report also notes that Xhekaj made the decision not to jump into the canal himself, a move that may have prevented the situation from becoming even more dangerous. Rescue situations involving drowning victims are notoriously risky, especially without flotation equipment or trained personnel present.

Thankfully, the individual survived the incident.

The timing makes the story even more remarkable. Xhekaj was in the middle of an intense playoff series and had just been fined by the NHL one day earlier following his altercation with Sabres’ Sam Carrick during Game 3.

But for one night, hockey took a backseat. Instead of being remembered as the Canadiens’ hard-hitting enforcer, Xhekaj reportedly became a young man who saw a life-threatening emergency, acted quickly under pressure, and helped ensure someone made it home alive.