Simona Xhekaj woke up early on Monday, returning to her routine after a momentous weekend. The mother of Arber and Florian Xhekaj, both players for the Montreal Canadiens, started her day at 6 a.m. with a workout before heading to her job at Costco in Hamilton. There, she worked from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., changing tires in the garage during the busy snow tire season.

Simona, who was promoted to supervisor last February, changed 36 tires on Monday. "I promised Jack (her husband) that I’m not going to go back to tires," she said. "I know I’m 54 years old and I probably shouldn’t be doing these heavy things, but it is what it is."

During her shift, Simona asked her coworkers for photos, explaining, "I need pictures for a newspaper." After work, she shared her thoughts about the unforgettable experience of watching her sons play together for the first time as teammates in a 5-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Florian made his NHL debut during the game.

Reflecting on the night, Simona said, "When we were flying in, all the things when they were little, like when Florian almost died on me in Spain, were going through my mind. My kid almost died on me and seeing him achieve what he wanted is just … it’s really hard to put into words."

Florian faced a life-threatening situation at age 14 during an international tournament in Spain when he suffered a ruptured kidney. Simona flew to Spain and stayed with him for two months as he underwent multiple surgeries and recovery.

"There were just so many feelings and emotions going through me," she said about watching Florian's debut. "It was crazy." In his first game, Florian contributed with an assist, a fight, two shots, three hits, and a blocked shot in just under ten minutes of ice time.

Simona expressed her initial concerns about Florian's nerves but was pleased with his performance. "I was a little bit scared that he was going to be nervous and try to do too much," she said. "I think he didn’t do that. I thought he fit in and he really played his game. He did what he was supposed to do and what Marty (St. Louis) expected from him. They just needed a little bit of grit and I think he brought it. I was very surprised that he played so calm — he was not nervous."

Simona and her husband, Jack, watched the game from the stands with their daughters, Sophia and Dominika. Afterward, the family celebrated with a late dinner. "I was just so happy that we were all together and both my girls could make it," she said. "We really only all get together at Christmas, so it was very, very special."

The Xhekaj family's journey is remarkable. Simona emigrated from the Czech Republic, while Jack came from Albania. They met in Hamilton, married, and built a life together. Florian acknowledged their sacrifices, saying, "They sacrificed everything for us to be here. Long nights when we played minor hockey at the rink. We spent almost all our childhood at the rink. We can’t thank them enough."

Jack also returned to work on Monday as a welder at National Steel Car in Hamilton. The financial burden of raising two boys in competitive hockey was significant. Simona worked two jobs for three years, balancing a day job at a bank and a night shift at Tim Hortons.

"Well, why do you think we still have a mortgage?" she joked when asked how they managed to afford hockey. "We just made it. It was very difficult, but sometimes difficult things pay off."

On the flight home, Simona texted her sons, expressing her pride and joy. "I just said: ‘This is something that we’ve all been working for and that I just dreamed about,'" she recalled. "We dreamed about you guys playing one day together on the same team and now it’s just happening. The dream honestly came true and it’s something so special."

Simona's belief in her sons' potential has finally come to fruition, marking a significant milestone for the Xhekaj family.