{"id":477475,"date":"2026-02-13T14:16:15","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T14:16:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/477475\/"},"modified":"2026-02-13T14:16:15","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T14:16:15","slug":"ilya-protas-was-the-youngest-player-at-the-2026-ahl-all-star-challenge-such-a-great-experience-to-be-here","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/477475\/","title":{"rendered":"Ilya Protas was the youngest player at the 2026 AHL All-Star Challenge: \u2018Such a great experience to be here\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ilya Protas is having incredible success in his rookie AHL season, and the Hershey Bears\u2019 leading scorer checked off another incredible milestone recently.<\/p>\n

Protas flew out to Rockford, Illinois, for his first, and perhaps only, AHL All-Star Weekend, which this year was held at BMO Center. At age 19 and 207 days, the Belarusian centerman was the youngest player on the ice as he suited up for the Eastern Conference All-Stars at the All-Star Skills Competition on Tuesday night and then the Atlantic Division All-Stars for the three-on-three All-Star Game tournament on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s huge, it\u2019s huge,\u201d Protas said of the experience<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s a great league for helping develop you and be playing against grown men, and yeah, such a great experience to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Protas didn\u2019t win any individual events or score any points in the tourney, he made the most of his time on the AHL\u2019s biggest stage and was grateful for the opportunity to build relationships with so many of the league\u2019s young stars. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s kind of fun to be on the same team for once and not have to play against these guys,\u201d Protas said. \u201cFinally, we can become friends on the ice as well. Yeah, and good experience, you know, to see them for a little bit, hanging out, have fun off the ice too, and yeah, really, really cool moment, and really excited to spend the game together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Weeks earlier, he learned of his All-Star Game nod from his older brother, Aliaksei<\/a>, who recorded a video for the Bears. The team then played it in the locker room during a film session in front of players and coaches.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I mean, it\u2019s pretty special,\u201d Protas said. \u201cI\u2019m pretty sure Aliaksei, watching with his family, it makes it even more special, you know. He\u2019s obviously a big part of my success, and it\u2019s pretty special to be here and kind of share that moment with him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ilya\u2019s All-Star Game appearance is an honor his brother never achieved during his three seasons in Hershey from 2020 through 2023. Heading into the event, Protas recorded 37 points (18g, 19a) in 44 games for the Bears.<\/p>\n

2026 AHL All-Star Skills Competition
\nTuesday, February 10, 2026
\n\"AHL\ud83d\udcf8: @TheAHL\/X<\/a><\/p>\n

Ilya\u2019s All Star appearance began on Tuesday for the AHL All-Star Skills Competition<\/a>. Wearing a white Hershey Bears jersey, Protas, as a member of the Eastern Conference, participated in three events:<\/p>\n

Puck Control Relay
\nAccuracy Shooting
\nBreakaway Relay<\/p>\n

The Eastern Conference beat the Western Conference 18 to 15 after winning four of the seven events.<\/p>\n

\"AHLScreenshot: TheAHL.com<\/p>\n

The most viral moment of the night was authored by Abbotsford Canucks forward Ben Berard, who scored a sensational goal during the Breakaway Relay event, where the puck stuck to his stick like it was glued on before popping it into the net on his backhand.<\/p>\n

Ilya Protas\u2019s introduction to the crowd<\/p>\n

Ilya Protas in the Puck Control Relay event<\/p>\n

Ilya Protas in the Accuracy Shooting event<\/p>\n

Ilya Protas in the Breakaway Relay event<\/p>\n

Autographs for fans<\/p>\n

After the event concluded, Protas stayed on the ice to sign autographs for fans with the rest of the AHL All-Star players.<\/p>\n

2026 AHL All-Star Challenge
\nWednesday, February 11, 2026<\/p>\n

The next day, Ilya suited up for the Atlantic Division All-Stars, one of 12 players on the roster. (See all of the All-Star rosters.<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Atlantic Division All-Stars<\/p>\n

F Denver Barkey, Lehigh Valley Phantoms (1st appearance)
D Tobias Bjornfot, Charlotte Checkers (1st)
F Patrick Brown (capt.), Providence Bruins (1st)
F Tristan Broz, Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton Penguins (1st)
D Frederic Brunet, Providence Bruins (1st)
F Jack Devine, Charlotte Checkers (1st)
G Michael DiPietro, Providence Bruins (2nd)
F Matt Luff, Springfield Thunderbirds (1st)
D Cole McWard, Bridgeport Islanders (1st)
G Sergei Murashov, Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton Penguins (1st)
F Gabe Perreault, Hartford Wolf Pack (1st)
F Ilya Protas, Hershey Bears (1st)
Coach Ryan Mougenel, Providence Bruins (1st)<\/p>\n

The Atlantic Division played three games, posting a 1-1-1 record. Protas had 1 shot and finished with a plus\/minus rating of plus-1. The Pacific Division won the tournament after beating the Central Division All-Stars 3-1 in the championship game. Former Hershey Bears forward Jayson Megna, who now plays with the Colorado Eagles, was named the MVP of the 2026 AHL All-Star Challenge<\/a>. Megna had seven points combined in the three games, posting 4 goals and 3 assists.<\/p>\n

Ilya Protas introduction to crowd<\/p>\n

Ilya Protas\u2019s individual results in the tournament
\n\"Ilya\ud83d\udcf8: Hershey Bears<\/p>\n

1 shot: Atlantic vs. Central<\/a> \u2013 1-1 tie
Atlantic vs. Pacific<\/a> \u2013 3-2 loss
+1 rating: Atlantic vs. North<\/a> \u2013 4-0 win: <\/p>\n

Watch the All-Star Game tournament<\/p>\n

Protas will now return to the Hershey Bears, where they will begin their second half of the season. They start on the road with a four-game road trip in Canada, beginning on Friday against Laval. Hershey then takes on Belleville on Saturday and Monday before traveling to Toronto on Wednesday. They\u2019ll then return home for a back-to-back against Lehigh Valley next Friday and Saturday.<\/p>\n

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