Montreal Canadiens fans start fundraiser in honour of Arber Xhekaj's actions against Cedric Pare

The NHL preseason has had a rather nasty start, with some egregious plays leaving numerous favorites off the ice with injuries. Among the most egregious, though, was the devastatingknee-to-knee hit Cedric Pare made against Patrik Laine in the recent match between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens. However, officials did not call this out, nor did the Marlies forward receive any additional discipline. Yet, Arber Xhekaj was not letting the 25-year-old player off the hook, taking him down relentlessly later in the game. He, in turn, received the maximum fine allowed under the collective bargaining agreement in addition to a 27-minute penalty.

Despite the harshness of the attack, Montreal Canadiens fans were not satisfied with the player's penalty given the lack of injury to Cedric Pare and the uncertain status of Patrik Laine so close to the start of the regular season. HFTV Sports, however, took this opportunity to turn around the poorly handled incident by starting a GoFundMe campaign to raise the cost of the assessed fine. Instead of the money going to Arber Xhekaj directly, it will go to a charity he is a strong advocate of; the Angel Project, a Hospital Foundation that helps provide those requiring Complex Care with the forgotten essentials.

While Areber Xhekaj may have gone over the line in avenging Patrik Laine, his representation for the Angel Project shows where his character lies off the ice. With increased support for those in need of better medical care and no standing injuries for Cedric Pare, this unfortunate incident seems to have had some positive outcomes. If you would like to be part of this cause, you can follow the GoFundMe link above, or visit their website directly to donate or volunteer your services.