The Washington Capitals announced that 18-year-old prospect Ilya Protas will join the Hershey Bears for the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs, wearing his brother Aliaksei's former number 40. Aliaksei, who helped Hershey clinch the Calder Cup championship before moving to the NHL, finished his season tied for third in playoff scoring. Ilya, coming off a successful OHL season where he led in postseason points, aims to develop into an NHL player, aspiring to win a Stanley Cup alongside his brother in the future, highlighting their familial bond and shared dreams in professional hockey.
Ilya recently shared that not only does he want to be good enough to be an NHL player someday, but he also wants to lift the Stanley Cup together with Aliaksei.
During Capitals' training camp, the two brothers - with an age difference of five years - actually got an opportunity to play together in the same preseason game against the Boston Bruins.
It's something we couldn't even dream of. Being on the same team, it's going to be something special.
Aliaksei finished tied for third in playoff scoring on the team, registering 13 points (5g, 8a) in 20 games.
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