"It's kind of fun to be on the same team for once and not have to play against these guys. Finally, 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."
"Yeah, I mean, it's pretty special. I'm pretty sure Aliaksei, watching with his family, it makes it even more special, you know. He's obviously a big part of my success, and it's pretty special to be here and kind of share that moment with him."
"It's huge, it's huge. It's a great league for helping develop you and be playing against grown men, and yeah, such a great experience to be here."
Ilya Protas, 19 years and 207 days old, attended the AHL All-Star Weekend at Rockford's BMO Center as the youngest player on the ice. He skated in the Eastern Conference All-Stars Skills Competition and for the Atlantic Division in the three-on-three All-Star tournament. Protas did not record points or win individual events but used the event to connect with other young players and to experience the league's developmental competition against older men. He emphasized the value of the experience, enjoyed being teammates instead of opponents, and celebrated the moment with family after his brother Aliaksei shared the All-Star news via a locker-room video.
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