NHL and Canadiens send Bell Centre staff major warning after prohibited incident
Photo credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The NHL and the Canadiens sent Bell Centre staff a memo banning cell phones in the penalty box after Arber Xhekaj's viral moment last week.
The Montreal Canadiens opened their NHL preseason with a split squad set last Saturday night, sending one roster to the Bell Centre and another to Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
While both teams were rolling to wins over the Maple Leafs, a family moment stole the spotlight.
Arber Xhekaj was serving a penalty in Montreal when a staff member handed him a phone so he could watch his brother Florian fight Toronto's Marshall Rifai live from Toronto.
A moment that captured hockey's charm
Cameras caught Arber leaning over the glass, phone in hand, grinning as he watched Florian land shot after shot.
The clip spread fast across social media, with fans calling it one of the most human moments of the young preseason.
Florian later said he was thrilled his brother got to see the fight live, even from across the province.
Arber later said there had been time between whistles for a staff member to show him the replay, and he called it a great fight to watch.
Not everyone in the league office found it as charming.
According to insider Maxime Truman, the NHL and the Canadiens quietly sent a memo to the Bell Centre staff this week reminding them what is and is not allowed during games.
The league sends a clear message to staff
The memo reportedly bans cell phones inside the penalty box entirely, warning that breaking the rule could lead to consequences.
Truman shared the details on social media, noting the directive came directly from league rather than a passing comment.
"I'm told the NHL and the Canadiens sent a memo to people working at the Bell Centre reminding them what's allowed and prohibited during games.
The memo states: you CANNOT have a cell phone in the penalty box.
It's prohibited and there could be consequences."
- Maxime Truman
The memo states: you CANNOT have a cell phone in the penalty box.
It's prohibited and there could be consequences."
- Maxime Truman
With the Canadiens set for the regular season next, staff working the penalty box will now be under closer watch.
For a moment born out of pure sibling excitement, the fallout has become a real policy discussion inside one of the NHL's most historic buildings.
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