Ilya Protas

Ilya Protas
Protas with the Hershey Bears on 10 February 2026
Born (2006-07-18) 18 July 2006 (age 20)
Vitebsk, Belarus
Height 6 ft 6 in (198 cm)
Weight 225 lb (102 kg; 16 st 1 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team		 Washington Capitals
Hershey Bears (AHL)
National team  Belarus
NHL draft 75th overall, 2024
Washington Capitals
Playing career 2025–present

Ilya Protas (Belarusian: Илья Уладзіміравіч Протас, Russian: Илья Владимирович Протас; born July 18, 2006) is a Belarusian professional ice hockey centre. He currently plays for the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL) and is under contract as a prospect for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Career

Before playing in the NHL, Protas played one season with Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) and one season with the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He had a succesasful time with his teams. With the Buccaneers, he was named to the USHL All-Rookie Team.

With the Spitfires, he won the William Hanley Trophy as the OHL's most sportsmanlike player and was named to the All-Star Second team.

He was drafted 75th overall by the Washington Capitals in the 2024 NHL entry draft. On 6 July 2024, Protas signed a three-year entry-level contract to join the Capitals. He was sent down to play for their AHL-affiliate Hershey Bears.

On 8 April 2026, the Capitals called him up and Protas made his NHL debut in a 4–0 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs. During the third period, he recorded his first NHL point after assisting on a Cole Hutson goal. On 11 April, Protas scored his first NHL goal against Artūrs Šilovs and also assisted on two goals in a 6–3 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Personal life

Protas's older brother, Aliaksei, is also a professional ice hockey player.

References

  1. ↑ "USHL All-Rookie Teams Announced for 2023-24". United States Hockey League. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Spitfires' Ilya Protas claims William Hanley Trophy as OHL's Most Sportsmanlike Player". Ontario Hockey League. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
  3. ↑ "OHL Announces 2024-25 All-Star and All-Rookie Teams". Ontario Hockey League. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Capitals Sign Ilya Protas". Washington Capitals. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Caps Blank Leafs, 4-0". Washington Capitals. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Ilya Protas has 3 points, Capitals defeat Penguins to stay in wild-card hunt". National Hockey League. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Aliaksei Protas Always Looked Out For Younger Brother Ilya. Now, He'll Watch Him Make His NHL Debut As His Linemate With The Capitals: 'It's Surreal'". The Hockey News. Retrieved August 31, 2026.

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