Photo: HC Dinamo
Washington Capitals forward prospect Aliaksei Protas is currently biding his time with KHL Dinamo Minsk while the WHL waits to begin their season, hopefully sometime in early December. Protas and Dinamo are currently preparing for the upcoming KHL season, which begins for Dinamo on September 3. In preparation for the upcoming season, Dinamo has held two exhibition games, the second of which was played today. Protas spoke with media following today’s game.
“It was good fast hockey. Both teams fought, tried. The outcome of the match was decided by the powerplay. The opponent scored twice, but we didn’t. And so in the second and third periods we were more active, creating more scoring chances. Maybe there were unnecessary losses somewhere. But overall we played well.”
What did the coaches pay attention to?
“They asked us to play according to our system, to do our job. We tried, gave all the best, but a little was not enough.”
What can you say about the overall status of the team?
“I have played in two games, it is clear that the team is improving. Better interactions. We need to polish some details of the game and everything will be fine.
At the “Olympic Arena” the ice sheet is Canadian (NHL) sized, at the “Minsk Arena” “finca” it is different. How was the transition?
“I didn’t even feel the difference. It doesn’t matter. The main thing is to play and give all the best.”
How are your personal feelings? You haven’t played for a long time.
“The most pleasant sensations. Everything is cool on the Dynamo team, the guys are positive, it is a pleasure to play and communicate with them.”
In both matches Vladimir Alistrov was one of your linemates.
“We played together with Volodya earlier, I crossed paths with him more than once. Therefore, it was easier to establish interaction. Sasha Kogalev also played with us in one match, Vanya Drozdov in the other. We played well with everyone. In general, everything is fine on the team, there is competition, everyone is trying to prove that they deserve a place on the squad. It makes you move forward and progress.”
Todays Exhibition Game
As far as the game itself, Protas started the contest centering the third line. He centered the second line in the team’s first exhibition game.
Наш состав на матч против «Юности» ⚡ pic.twitter.com/GzY7RaZXai
— ХК Динамо-Минск | HC Dinamo Minsk (@hcdinamoby) August 20, 2020
Protas, who scored in his KHL exhibition debut, was held off of the scoresheet today.
Aliaksei Protas scores his first KHL goal for @hcdinamoby in preseason tuneup. Protas started the game at 2C. #ALLCAPS #Capitals #CapsProspect pic.twitter.com/aN1u4frW82
— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) August 16, 2020
By Jon Sorensen
