Minnesota Duluth's Max Plante Just Won College Hockey's Biggest Individual Award

Minnesota Duluth sophomore Max Plante is the 2026 Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner, cementing himself as the nation's best college hockey player. The Detroit Red Wings prospect beat out some serious competition to take home the hardware on Friday night, and honestly, this kid's trajectory has Seattle college hockey fans watching close.

The Numbers Don't Lie

Plante, 20, put up a monster season. He finished second in the nation with 25 goals and third overall with 52 points. The Bulldogs forward ended the year on a hot streak too, picking up an assist in Minnesota Duluth's 4-3 loss to Michigan in the NCAA tournament quarterfinals. That's the kind of production that gets you noticed at the highest levels of the game.

His competition for the award was legit. Denver defenseman Eric Pohlkamp, a San Jose Sharks prospect, and Michigan forward T.J. Hughes, an undrafted free agent, were also in the mix. But Plante's all-around game separated him from the pack.

Family Ties and Big Dreams Ahead

Here's what makes Plante's story even better: he's expected to return to Minnesota Duluth next season, and he'll have his brothers alongside him. His older brother Zam is already a Bulldogs teammate and was a fifth-round pick of the Penguins back in 2022. Younger brother Victor is committed to play for the Bulldogs starting next season.

"That was a huge motivator," Plante said. "Just the fact to have a chance to play with two brothers at that high of a level, and to try and achieve something that I haven't achieved yet, a national championship."

Plante was a second-round pick in the 2024 NHL draft, so the Red Wings clearly believe in his ceiling. Now he's Minnesota Duluth's seventh Hobey Baker winner. The kid's got hardware and family on his side. That's a recipe for something special next season.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.