The CHL Import Draft was held on Wednesday, and two Washington Capitals picks from the 2024 NHL Draft have new potential homes in junior hockey for the 2024-25 season.
Ilya Protas, the younger brother of Aliaksei Protas, was selected third overall by the Windsor Spitfires while Petr Sikora was taken in the second round, 79th overall by Acadie-Bathurst Titan. Protas was a Capitals’ third-round pick while Sikora was taken in the sixth round.
The CHL Import Draft includes junior teams from the QMJHL, WHL, and OHL. The event gives them the rights to eligible import players. An “import” is classified as a player who does not have residency status in either Canada or the United States.
The Windsor Spitfires are proud to select Ilya Protas with the 3rd overall pick in the CHL Import Draft!#WindsorSpitfires pic.twitter.com/OJNiRyLZ91
— Windsor Spitfires (@SpitsHockey) July 3, 2024
Protas’s selection by the Spitfires comes after the 17-year-old forward spent his draft year in the USHL with the Des Moines Buccaneers. Only Matvei Gridin, a first-round pick by the Calgary Flames, and Vit Zahejsky, a 2025 draft-eligible 16-year-old, were taken ahead of Protas.
Ilya put up 51 points (14g, 37a) in 61 games for Des Moines, the second-highest total on the club. He was named to the USHL’s All-Rookie First Team, led all USHL rookies in assists (37), and tied for second in total power-play goals (6).
The Protas family has a good history in the CHL after Aliaksei Protas played two seasons with the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders. The elder Protas finished with the ninth-highest amount of points in the WHL in 2019-20 before leaping the AHL’s Hershey Bears the next year.
Goaltender Philipp Grubauer is the last Capitals prospect to star for Windsor, winning the 2010 Memorial Cup with the Spitfires. The club has produced great talent in more recent years including Shane Wright, Wyatt Johnston, Gabe Vilardi, and Mikhail Sergachev.
2024 CHL Import Draft.
Round 2 – 79th pick: The Titan selects forward Petr SikoraRepêchage Européen de la LCH 2024.
Ronde 2 – Choix 79 : Le Titan sélectionne l’attaquant Petr Sikora pic.twitter.com/32r0WsaDNa— Titan Acadie-Bathurst (@ABTitan) July 3, 2024
Sikora was selected by the QMJHL’s Titan in the second round of the draft with the 79th overall selection. The Czech centerman split his draft year with HC Oceláři Třinec’s senior team in the Czech Extraliga and their U20 junior club.
In 22 games playing against men, Sikora recorded three points (1g, 2a). He lit up the U20 league, recording 40 points (13g, 27a) in 30 games and added seven points (5g, 2a) in four playoff games.
Acadie-Bathurst has played host to a few Capitals prospects in recent seasons, including Antoine Keller and Hendrix Lapierre.
