Ilya Protas Named AHL’s Rookie of the Year for the 2025-26 Season

Ilya Protas named AHL’s Rookie of the Year for the 2025-26 season

Ilya Protas has been named the winner of the Dudley (Red) Garrett Memorial Award as the AHL’s Rookie of the Year for the 2025-26 season. He is just the second Bears player in franchise history to take home the honor, joining longtime Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Ron Hextall (1985-86). Protas, 19, led all AHL rookies in scoring with 66 points (29g, 37a) in 69 games and tied for sixth in the league in scoring among all players. Among just rookie…

Bears’ Protas wins Dudley (Red) Garrett Award as top rookie

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Hershey Bears forward Ilya Protas has been voted the winner of the Dudley (Red) Garrett Memorial Award as the AHL’s outstanding rookie for the 2025-26 season. The award was voted on by coaches, players and members of the media representing each of the league’s 32 cities. Protas is the first Bears player to win the Garrett Award since Ron Hextall in 1985-86. The 19-year-old Prota