Ilya Protas made sure the hockey world knows that his big brother isn’t the only big time goal-scorer in the family.
Just four days after Aliaksei Protas recorded his first NHL hat trick for the Washington Capitals, his little brother Ilya potted three in a row in the OHL for a natural hat trick. Protas’s three goals marked his third hat trick of the season, and gave him 50 goals in his rookie season with the Windsor Spitfires.
A virtual unknown before the 2024 NHL Draft, Protas has quickly turned himself into one of the most exciting prospects in hockey.
Protas, who recently attended a Capitals game in DC, kicked his big night off 9:55 into the second period, tying the game 2-2. He scored his second to put the Spitfires up 3-2 just 2:27 later. After working his way out from below the goal line, Protas took a pass from Jack Nesbitt and fired a wicked wrister top shelf past goaltender Kaleb Papineau.
Little Pro finished off his natural hatty with 1:49 left in the second. While on a power play, Protas let go a wrist shot that bounced off a Saginaw shot blocker and over Papinpeau in the Spirit net.
The 18-year-old Belorussian added an assist in Windsor’s 6-5 shootout loss to the Saginaw Spirit and was named OHL Performer of the Night. He now has 119 points (50g, 69a) in 60 games this year.
Protas has points in all but eight of the 60 games he has played for Windsor this season. He has been red-hot recently, recording 17 points (7g, 11a) in his last five games. He is now second in the OHL in points (119) and third in goal-scoring (50).
Aliaksei celebrated his brother’s big night by reposting Windsor’s post honoring Ilya for scoring 50 goals this season to his Instagram story.
The elder Protas also scored on Saturday, potting his 29th of the season against the San Jose Sharks.
The 2024 Capitals third-round draft pick is on pace for 125 points (53g, 72a) assuming he plays in the remainder of Windsor’s three regular season games.
