Less than 24 hours after a brutal and controversial hit left Josiah Didier bleeding on the ice, the Laval Rocket responded — not with words, but with fists.
Friday night’s matchup against the Abbotsford Canucks turned ugly when Chase Stillman violently slammed Didier to the ground, then delivered an extra blow while the defenseman lay injured. The scene was horrifying: blood on the ice, Didier helped off with visible head trauma, and a stunned Bell Place crowd left in disbelief.
The hit was widely condemned as reckless and unnecessary, sparking outrage across Laval’s locker room and fanbase. “It wasn’t just a dirty play — it was a deliberate act of violence,” one Rocket supporter said.
But on Saturday afternoon, Florian Xhekaj made sure the league knew: Laval doesn’t forget.
Just 55 seconds into the rematch, Xhekaj went straight for Stillman. The gloves dropped, the fists flew, and the message was unmistakable. The fight lasted mere moments, but the symbolism was thunderous — Xhekaj sent Stillman to the ice, electrifying the crowd and restoring pride to a shaken team.
“Xhekaj didn’t (really) take long to sort it all out,” one commentator quipped — but fans saw more than just a fight. They saw loyalty, grit, and a refusal to be intimidated.
The incident has reignited debate across the AHL: Was Xhekaj delivering justice, or escalating a vendetta? Should the league intervene, or did the players police themselves?
Regardless, one thing is clear: Florian Xhekaj just earned serious respect in Laval — and maybe even in Montreal.
He didn’t just defend Didier. He reminded everyone that the Rocket stands united, and that violence against their own will not go unanswered.