Making Them Proud: Aliaksei Protas Shines Against Edmonton Oilers With Billet Family in Attendance

NBC Sports Washington

While the Washington Capitals breaking a two-game skid with a 3-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night was a major headline for the club, for Center Aliaksei Protas, who assisted on the tie-breaking goal, a strong performance came with extra meaning, as his billet family from his Junior career were in attendance.

Protas, who made the Capitals’ Opening Night roster after an impressive training camp at the age of 21-years old, has shown tremendous signs of growth and maturity in his first true taste of a full NHL season (he played in 33 games last season), and he has recorded five points (3G, 2A) in 27 Games Played this season, with an even plus/minus rating, and averaging 11:11 of ice time for Head Coach Peter Laviolette and his coaching staff. A third-round pick of the club in 2019, Protas has developed into a reliable forward, who can and has been at various places in the lineup at stages this season, and has been able to perform seamlessly when tasked with each.

The GWG from tonight:

This pass by Protas 🤤🤤🤤 pic.twitter.com/xtVEeBAXWH

— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) December 6, 2022

Overall, Protas, who finished the night against the Oilers with one assist (a beauty of a helper on Nic Dowd’s goal that put Washington in the lead), a plus-1 rating in 14:05 of ice time, has performed as well as one could have expected him to in a season that has seen the Caps lose some key players to injuries and required him to step up, which he has done admirably. After the game, he was awarded the team’s victory fire rope for his effort.

Sitting among the thousands in Rogers Place on Monday night was the Pagé Family. Just as his performance had impressed his team, Protas’ showing was just as meaningful. The Pagé Family served as Aliaksei’s billet family during his time with the Western Hockey League’s Prince Albert Raiders; a billet family provides housing and guidance to players from outside the city (or country in his case) a he fit into the Pagé household extremely well. When he relayed the news that he would be on the Capitals’ Opening Night roster, their reaction was as genuine as they come.

Team #Protas Assemble 😄😄 pic.twitter.com/wTjsPHIzPJ

— Rog-eh Pahj-eh (@rogerapage) December 4, 2022

Through extensive coverage of Protas’ development, NoVa Caps has gotten to know the Pagé Family well. Although being just 21-years old, the fact he has stepped up when asked should come as no surprise. Roger, Aliaksei’s billet dad who dubbed Protas the “Viper from Vitebsk” (his hometown in Belarus), described the 6’6″ pivot’s work ethic in a previous interview with NoVa Caps in 2020.

“He’s always eager to lend a hand, regardless of the task…One week last winter, we’d had a large accumulation of snowfall. I knew he had a day off from the rink and, so before heading to work, I asked him if he could shovel the sidewalk in-front of the yard and immediately alongside the driveway. A few hours later, I received a text from our good neighbors across the street, Jana and Roger, with an image attached. Not only was our front sidewalk and walkway done, but the entire concrete driveway AND the gravel driveway beside the house! It must have taken him two hours to do that. He’s always trying to do his best, that’s AP!”

There is no doubt that there will be many more memorable moments for Protas and the Pagé Family and if his performance against Edmonton is any indication, the future is bright indeed.

“Yes, for sure we needed that win. Now it’s time to find the consistency to win games and keep it rolling.”

Aliaksei Protas postgame.#CapsOilers pic.twitter.com/DolDmaeQWE

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 6, 2022

By Michael Fleetwood

More Reading:
– Aliaksei Protas’ Billet Dad, Who Created The ‘Viper’ Nickname, Is Happy To See New Protas Bobblehead
– How Aliaksei Protas Capitalized On A Rare Opportunity During The Covid Pandemic
– “I Need To Prove What I Can Do On the Ice, Off the Ice”: Aliaksei Protas Talks His Strong Training Camp, Potential of Making Final Roster