Ilya Protas is on his way to Chocolatetown.
The Washington Capitals prospect is joining the AHL’s Hershey Bears for the start of their 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs run after concluding his rookie OHL season with the Windsor Spitfires earlier this week. Protas and the Spitfires were reverse swept by the Kitchener Rangers in the second round of the OHL playoffs, losing four straight games after going up 3-0 in the series.
The Spitfires announced Friday that Protas, linemate Liam Greentree, and forward AJ Spellacy have all been “called up” to the AHL.
Protas had an incredible first year in the league, finishing second in scoring with 124 points (50g, 74a) in 61 games. He matched that output in the playoffs, ending the second round atop the postseason scoring leaderboard with 25 points (5g, 20a) in 12 games.
The 18-year-old forward was recently named the winner of the William Hanley Trophy, presented annually to the OHL’s most sportsmanlike player. He also had six straight multi-point games during March, leading to him being named OHL Player of the Month.
Protas signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Capitals after completing last July’s development camp. The 2024 third-round pick will join a Bears team that has seen fellow Caps prospects Ryan Chesley, David Gucciardi, Leon Muggli, Terik Parascak, Ludwig Persson, and Alexander Suzdalev all join their roster ahead of postseason action.
Protas’s older brother, Caps forward Aliaksei Protas, played 67 career AHL games for the Bears from 2021-2023. He helped the Bears win the 2023 Calder Cup, recording 13 points (5g, 8a) in 20 playoff games.
The Bears earned a first-round bye in this year’s playoffs, awaiting their eventual competition in the Atlantic Division Semifinals. Hershey is attempting to become only the second AHL team to ever three-peat as Calder Cup champions.
Update, 4/26: The Capitals and Bears officially announced the move.
Capitals Re-assign Ilya Protas to Hershey
The 18-year-old forward ranked second in the OHL in scoring with 124 points in 61 games
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have re-assigned forward Ilya Protas from the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), senior vice president and general manager Chris Patrick announced today.
Protas, 18, ranked second in the OHL in scoring with 124 points (50g, 74a) in 61 games with Windsor this season. The 6’5”, 200-pound forward also ranked second in the OHL in plus-minus (+58), tied for second in assists and third in goals and game-winning goals (8). Protas became the first player since Alex DeBrincat in 2014-15 to score 50 goals in his first OHL season, while his 2.03 points-per-game rate was the highest by a Windsor player over a full season since Jason Spezza (2.09) in 2000-01. The Vitebsk, Belarus native added 25 points (5g, 20a) in 12 postseason games, which leads all skaters through the first two rounds of the OHL Playoffs. On April 15, Protas was named the recipient of the William Hanley Trophy, presented annually to the League’s Most Sportsmanlike Player as voted by OHL General Managers.
During the 2023-24 season, Protas recorded 51 points (14g, 37a) in 37 games with the Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League (USHL). Protas led USHL rookies in assists and ranked tied for second among first-year players in power-play goals (6) and third in points. In addition, Protas led Des Moines in assists and power-play goals, while his 51 points ranked second on the team.
Protas split the 2022-23 season with the Under-17 and Under-18 Belarus national team, recording 34 points (19g, 15a) in 29 games with the Under-17s and nine points (5g, 4a) in 10 games with the Under-18s.
The Capitals selected Protas in the third round (75th overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft. Ilya’s older brother, Aliaksei, was drafted by the Capitals in the third round (91st overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft and has recorded 119 points (43g, 76a) in 245 career NHL games with Washington. Aliaksei and Ilya Protas are the second set of brothers in franchise history to be selected by Washington, joining Yvon Corriveau (19th overall, 1985) and Rick Corriveau (168th overall, 1991).
