Ilya Protas reveals his biggest NHL dream-- and it involves his brother
Photo credit: Capitals Outsider
It's not uncommon in the NHL to see talent run in the family-- and that's exactly the case for Washington Capitals brothers Ilya and Aliaksei Protas, a sibling duo sharing serious hockey skills and aspirations.
Ilya Protas has yet to suit up for his first game in the big leagues, but he's mentally preparing himself after years of watching his older brother, Aliakei Protas.
In a recent interview, Ilya Protas opened up about his bond with his brother, sharing that his ultimate dream is to one day lift the Stanley Cup alongside him.
Ilya Protas wants to win the Stanley Cup with older brother Aliaksei
«[Playing with my brother] is one of the big dreams,» Protas said, per a translation via Google Translate. «The most important thing is to win the Stanley Cup with him.»
«Before this, we always trained separately because we have an age difference, and I used to have training camps with teams,» Protas told Tuboltseva. «I started the season in mid-July, and he in September. Last summer, our schedules coincided. This year, too, we will be together. I think we will now spend all the preseasons together. The age difference is no longer noticeable. I think we became very close when I grew up. It helped me grow as a person and as a player.»
«There was rivalry,» Protas said. «I was always such a prankster. Lyokha (Aliaksei) always taught me and put me in my place. He was always an example for me. He is the best brother, no questions about that. From an early age, I always looked up to him.»
Ilya was a third round draft pick by the Washington Capitals back in 2024. He also signed his ELC (entry level contract) in July, and all signs are leading to an NHL stint in the very near future.
This season with. the Windsor Spitfires, Protas had a very strong season, notching 124 points in just 61 regular season games.
That said, if Ilya continues to perform at a high level, it's only a matter of time before Ilya Protas makes the jump to the NHL-- bringing him one step closer to making his Stanley Cup dream of winning it with his brother a reality.
More details to follow.
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AVRIL 19 | 49 ANSWERS Ilya Protas reveals his biggest NHL dream-- and it involves his brother Do you think Ilya Protas could make the NHL next season? | ||
| Yes | 36 | 73.5 % |
| No | 13 | 26.5 % |
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