Ilya Protas made a big impression in his first appearance with the Windsor Spitfires — the junior hockey team he will play for this season.
Protas scored a hat trick in the Spitfires’ OHL preseason opener, a 6-3 victory over the Sarnia Sting. The 18-year-old forward scored a goal in every period and would go on to earn First Star of the Night honors.
Goal 1
GOAL!!
Protas starts us off! Spits lead Sting 1-0#WindsorSpitfires pic.twitter.com/OOfT4YQkEd
— Windsor Spitfires (@SpitsHockey) September 6, 2024
Goal 2
SHORTHANDED GOAL!
PROTAS! 2nd of the night!
Spits lead 5-2!#WindsorSpitfires pic.twitter.com/25hN7yVHMM
— Windsor Spitfires (@SpitsHockey) September 7, 2024
Hat-trick goal
GOAL!
PROTAS HAS A HAT-TRICK! Spits lead 6-2.#WindsorSpitfires
— Windsor Spitfires (@SpitsHockey) September 7, 2024
First Star of the night
Tonight's 3 Stars:
⭐️ WSR – Ilya Protas
⭐️⭐️ WSR – Liam Greentree
⭐️⭐️⭐️ WSR – J.C Lemieux #WindsorSpitfires— Windsor Spitfires (@SpitsHockey) September 7, 2024
Ethan Belchetz, Cole Davis and Jean-Christoph Lemieux also added goals for the Spitfires. Protas tied for second on the team in shots with 5. He went 3 for 9 in the faceoff dot.
Ilya is the younger brother of Aliaksei Protas and was the Washington Capitals’ third round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. The team signed Little Pro to a three-year, entry-level contract in July.
The Spitfires picked Protas third overall in the CHL Import Draft on July 3 after he played last season for the USHL’s Des Moines Buccaneers. Protas signed an OHL development deal weeks later.
“It feels amazing, it is an honour to sign with such a great organization.” Protas said then. “It felt good to get drafted by Windsor and I am excited to get started.”
Ilya put up 51 points (14g, 37a) in 61 games for Des Moines, the second-highest total on the club, during the 2023-24 season. 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).
Windsor’s training camp started on August 29 and concludes on September 21, though Ilya will miss part of the preseason to attend the Capitals’ Rookie Camp from September 13-16. The Spitfires’ season opener will be on September 25 against the Saginaw Spirit.
