Ilya Protas is having a historic season for the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires and notched a franchise record on Sunday night.
The 18-year-old winger recorded five points (2g, 3a) in Windsor’s 7-3 victory over the Saginaw Spirit. His first goal in the game was his 40th marker of the season, making him the highest-scoring import player in Spitfires history. An import in the CHL is classified as a player who does not have residency status in either Canada or the United States.
Protas, appropriately wearing a Spitfires’ Wolverine-inspired jerseys for Suphero Night, scored his 40th of the year while on a power play at the 6:58 mark of the first period. The big winger snuck behind the Spirit penalty kill and finished a one-on-one chance past goaltender Andrew Oke.
Little Pro added his second goal 19:03 into the first frame. After winning an offensive-zone faceoff, Protas immediately got the puck back from linemate Liam Greentree in the right circle and fired a dart past Oke’s glove hand.
Protas completed his five-point outing with three assists on Windsor’s last four goals. He has been particularly hot lately, extending his point streak to eight games. In his last three games, he has 12 points (4g, 8a).
The Washington Capitals prospect was named First Star of the Game and First Star of the Night in the CHL overall.
Representing the best from Sunday #CHLThreeStars pic.twitter.com/ErDYOm6uzF
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) February 24, 2025
The five points give Protas 98 points (41g, 57a) in 52 games this season. He ranks fourth in the OHL in scoring, right ahead of fellow Capitals prospect Patrick Thomas, who has 92 points (24g, 68a) for the Brantford Bulldogs.
Little Pro has already blown past his big brother Aliaksei Protas’ best junior season. Aliaksei, on pace for over 70 points in the NHL this season, recorded 80 points (31g, 49a) in 58 games for the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders during the 2019-20 campaign.
