A heartwarming moment unfolded at the Giant Center as Ilya Protas, a rising star in the AHL, celebrated his 18th goal of the season with a special dedication. With his older brother, Aliaksei, and family in the stands, Ilya's achievement took on a whole new meaning.
The game, which pitted the Hershey Bears against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, became a memorable occasion for the Protas family. Aliaksei, along with his wife Tanya and daughter Alisa, had traveled over 100 miles to witness Ilya's performance.
And what a performance it was! Just under eight minutes into the first period, Ilya unleashed a powerful shot from the top of the circles, beating Penguins' goaltender Sergei Murashov. The goal, his 18th of the season and leading his team, narrowed the Penguins' early lead to 2-1.
In a heartwarming display, Ilya celebrated by bending down and pumping his fist, followed by a warm embrace with his teammates. But the real highlight came next.
"Did you catch that moment when Little Pro pointed up to the suite where his brother, Big Pro, was standing?" asked Todd Sadowski of FOX 43. "It was a special dedication to his big brother, Aliaksei, who was in the building."
The Bears then introduced Aliaksei to the crowd, along with fellow Calder Cup champions Garrett Roe and Clay Stevenson. Stevenson's presence was a result of the NHL's unique roster requirement, which mandates that two healthy goaltenders must be on a team's active roster at all times. As a result, Stevenson may be 'returned' to Hershey during the Olympic break, allowing him to play.
Ilya's impressive performance continued with an assist to Ivan Miroshnichenko in the second period, marking his 11th multi-point game of his rookie season. With 37 points (18 goals and 19 assists) in just 44 games, Ilya is second among all AHL rookies.
Ilya's journey now takes him to Rockford, Illinois, for the 2026 AHL All-Star Game. A well-deserved nod, and one that he learned about through his brother, Aliaksei.
This story is a testament to the power of family support in sports. It's a reminder that sometimes, the greatest victories are those shared with loved ones.
And here's where it gets interesting: What impact do you think family support has on an athlete's performance? Do you think it's a driving force or a potential distraction? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
