The young forward shared the moment with his brother and credited his Hershey Bears teammates for his production as he prepares to face the league’s top talent.

HERSHEY, Pa. — Ilya Protas has put together an impressive season with the Hershey Bears, and his stellar play has earned him a spot in this year’s AHL All-Star Classic. The Washington Capitals prospect leads the Bears in both points and goals, cementing his status as one of the team’s top performers.

Protas has recorded 17 goals and 16 assists so far this season, numbers that caught the attention of All-Star selectors. The recognition represents a significant milestone for the young forward, who received the news in a special way when his older brother, a player with the Washington Capitals, called to congratulate him.

“It means, it means a lot. Obviously, he’s my closest person, so it was really cool. I wasn’t expected at all. And, yeah, it was an awesome moment, pretty special. And, yeah, can we can’t wait to get there,” Protas said of learning about his All-Star selection.

While the All-Star nod is an individual accomplishment, Protas quickly redirected credit to those around him. He attributes much of his success to the effort and quality of his teammates on the Hershey roster.

“I think it’s on my teammates, how they help me to get those points and how good they are,” Protas explained.

Lil Pro = big star

Ilya Protas will represent the Bears at the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic in Rockford, Illinois ⭐️

📰: https://t.co/ZuBKMh1t5H pic.twitter.com/5l7fKv6EeH

— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) January 15, 2026

His teammates clearly share mutual respect for the forward. Andrew Cristall, a fellow Hershey Bears forward, praised Protas for his work ethic and the subtle ways he contributes beyond what shows up in the stat sheet.

“He’s unbelievable, just like the little plays he makes. There’s so much, you know, underlying stuff that he does so well to create room for, you know, his line mates and myself,” Cristall said. “So, you know, I feel like we think on the same path, and we’re always trying to get better and make a better place so we can, you know, help each other out and, you know, keep pucks on our net and score goals.”

Ilya Protas strikes first for the second straight game!

🍎 Trineyev pic.twitter.com/kVj6inesvD

— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) January 25, 2026

The All-Star selection marks another step in Protas’ professional development within the Capitals organization. As a top prospect for Washington, Protas uses his time in Hershey to develop his skills at the AHL level. His performances this season suggest he continues to make progress toward potentially joining his brother in the nation’s capital.

The AHL All-Star Classic will provide Protas with an opportunity to compete against top talent from across the league and showcase his abilities on a larger stage.