Redden on the Raiders: Protas pushes down rare path

With this context in mind, it’s easy to understand the significance of the moment when Protas signed an entry-level contract with the Washington Capitals last summer.

“I wasn’t ready for that,” Protas said. “My agent called me and said to gather your family and be ready. [He said] ‘I’ll call you with good news in about five hours, so be ready.’ I got everybody, and he told me I would sign a contract with the Capitals.”

Surrounded by loved ones, Protas signed his first professional contract on July 10, just 18 days after the Capitals selected him in the third round, 91^st overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.

“We were so happy, it was unreal for us. For a guy from Belarus, it doesn’t happen real often,” he said.

While an entry-level contract doesn’t guarantee millions of dollars or even a single game in the NHL, it does signify a commitment between team and player in the next three or more years. And while the number is nowhere near a million, an entry-level contract does come with some healthy financial compensation for an 18-year-old.

Did he tuck the money away? Or spoil himself with an expenditure?

“First thing I did, I bought a car for my parents. They wanted a new car so I just bought it for them, that was my first big thing,” Protas said with a smile before following up with his reasoning.

“I was so happy. I like more to give than get, you know what I mean?”

Protas continued that giving spirit this season, tied for 12^th in the WHL in assists so far. He has also shown a willingness to find the net himself, though, scoring 30 goals in 55 games heading into the weekend, nearly tripling his rookie output of 11 goals last season.

Here in Prince Albert, we’ve certainly come to appreciate Aliaksei Protas the player, but it was great to get a better idea of the person this week as he sat down with me on the CKBI Overtime podcast.

The Ocho

For the second time this season, the Raiders rung up eight goals on Tuesday night as they dropped the visiting Calgary Hitmen 8-3.

A game featuring two teams in a similar place in the standings, and a potential first-round matchup, turned out very different than any of us expected.

I don’t believe that game was a true representation of who the Hitmen are, as they bounced back the next night to beat Saskatoon for their 35^th win of the season, the same amount as the Raiders.

I do, however, believe the Raiders are showing just what they’re capable of when they get a complete effort.

In three games since a disappointing setback in Saskatoon on Friday night, Prince Albert has outscored their opponents 14-5, and outshot them 130-61 [average of 43-20].

With playoffs just three weeks away, it’s the right time to find your stride.

Clinching scenario

With an ‘X’ beside the Raiders in the standings signifying a clinched playoff spot, it’s all about home ice advantage now.

Prince Albert has a five-point cushion on Brandon for top spot in the East Division with equal games played, and seven games remaining. Any combination of 10 points gained by the Raiders or lost by the Wheat Kings would secure a first-place finish.

With two games this weekend, there is a possibility for that number to shrink to two points as of Sunday morning, because two wins by Prince Albert would be a gain of four points paired with four points “lost” by Brandon.

Conversely, the Wheat Kings could make things very interesting with a couple wins of their own, making it a battle right down the stretch.

Three-in-three

The weekend starts Friday night as the Raiders wrap up a four-game homestand as they take on the Wheat Kings at the Art Hauser Centre [7 p.m., CKBI].

On Saturday, the team will board the bus and head east for a return match in Brandon (7:30 p.m., CKBI), concluding the season series between the clubs. Then on Sunday, they’ll continue east down the TransCanada for the final meeting of the year against the Winnipeg ICE (5 p.m., CKBI).

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trevor.redden@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Trevor_Redden

by Trevor Redden

Redden on the Raiders: Protas pushes down rare path

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