Protas OHL player of the week

Ilya Protas was a relative unknown when he was drafted by the Windsor Spitfires last summer but the import pick has become the Washington Capitals' hot prospect. The 18-year old scored a natural hat trick Saturday night in Saginaw during the second period and entered the 50-goal club.

Ilya Protas nets natural hat trick vs Saginaw

He is the OHL's Player of the Week for the second time in four weeks after scoring five goals and adding six assists for 11 points in three games. He now has 119 points, tied for second overall with teammate Liam Greentree. Michael Misa leads the league with 126 points.

Spitfires’ Ilya Protas named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week - Ontario Hockey League

Greentree, who has also been named OHL player of the week twice this season (January 5th and October 20th), could join Protas in the 50-goal club Thursday when the Spits host Sarnia. Greentree sits 14th on the Spits' all-time scoring list with 109 goals and 253 points. He trails 5-year centre Jeff Martin by 8 points for 13th on the list.

He and Protas could become the first Spitfire tandem to score 50 goals in a season since David Haas (59) and Kelly Cain (57) during the 1987-88 season.