The Ontario Hockey League is honoring Ilya Protas after another string of sensational games with the Windsor Spitfires.
Protas was named the league’s Player of the Week after he recorded 11 points (5g, 6a) in three games. Protas has 119 points (50g, 69a) in 60 games this season, good for second best in the OHL.
Protas capped off his big week with a natural hat trick and four total points against the Saginaw Spirit on Saturday night. The 18-year-old forward has three total hat tricks this year, and his most recent gave him 50 goals in his rookie campaign.
The 2024 third-round draft pick also had three points (1g, 2a) against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds last Thursday and four points (1g, 3a) against the Erie Otters last Tuesday. The big three games only extended Protas’s recent hot streak, giving him 17 points (7g, 11a) in his last five games.
Ilya’s older brother, Aliaksei Protas, reposted the OHL’s Instagram post of the award to his Instagram story. He did the same when Windsor recognized Ilya for getting to 50 goals this season.
Protas missed Windsor’s game on Sunday with an upper-body injury. The Spitfires have just two games remaining in their regular season.
Windsor is 44-16-6 this year, already clinching the OHL’s West Division. They have the third-most standings points (94) in the league.
