The Western Hockey League announced today that Prince Albert Raiders forward Aliaksei Protas has been named the WHL On the Run
Protas, a prospect eligible for the 2019 NHL Draft, recorded seven points (6G-1A) and carried a plus-three rating as the Raiders defeated the Edmonton Oil Kings in their six-game Eastern Conference Championship campaign, advancing to the 2019 Rogers WHL Championship Series.
Friday, Protas powered his team to a 4-0 win with his first career WHL Playoffs hat trick. Recording four points, Protas scored the first, second and fourth goal of the night and also earned an assist on the third goal. For his tally, Protas was awarded the first star of the game and the first star of the night in the WHL.
In Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Championship on Sunday, Protas continued his hot streak, recording another hat trick. For his efforts, Protas was awarded the third star of the game and the first star of the night in the WHL in the 4-2 series-clinching victory over the Oil Kings.
The 6-foot-5, 192-pound centreman has 15 points (11G-4A) in the 2019 WHL Playoffs. During the regular season, Protas collected 40 points (11G-29A) in 61 games, including one power-play goal and two game-winning goals.
The Vitebsk, Belarus product was selected by the Raiders 26th overall in the 2018 WHL Import Draft. The 18-year-old has also been identified by NHL Central Scouting for selection at the 2019 NHL Draft, giving him a 44thoverall ranking amongst North American skaters on the NHL Central Scouting final rankings.
Protas and the Raiders will host the Vancouver Giants on Friday, May 3 (7:00 p.m. MT) for Game 1 of the 2019 Rogers WHL Championship Series at the Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert, Sask.
