Max Plante, a forward prospect for the Detroit Red Wings, was awarded the 2026 Hobey Baker Memorial Award on April 10 after his sophomore season at the University of Minnesota Duluth. The award is given annually to the top NCAA men’s ice hockey player.
Plante’s recognition comes as he finished his season with 52 points in 40 games, marking the highest point total by a Bulldog since the 2011-12 season. He recorded 25 goals and 27 assists, ranking third nationally in points and tied for second in goals. “Coming into the year, that was something that obviously could happen, but I didn’t even think about it,” Plante said to DetroitRedWings.com. “I was just focused on getting UMD and our team back to where we wanted to be. Then throughout the year, that kind of talk started happening more and as my brother and I started doing well on that line together…When my name was called, it was just super special. Going up there and seeing my mom and dad, knowing how much it meant to them too, that was also really special.”
In addition to winning the Hobey Baker Award, Plante earned several other honors during his sophomore campaign: NCHC Player of the Year and Forward of the Year awards; unanimous selection to the All-NCHC First Team; inclusion on both NCHC Frozen Faceoff All-Tournament Team and CCM/AHCA Hockey West First Team All-American lists.
Reflecting on his development this year, Plante said: “Obviously, one thing I feel that seemed to have really clicked this year was goal scoring…especially my ability to score on the power play.” He credited family support for helping him reach this level: “The people that are around you, those are the kind of people that push you to be better…I’ve grown up in a big hockey town and in a big hockey family.” His father Derek played eight seasons in the NHL while his mother Kristi excelled at UMD in softball and basketball.
Looking ahead, Plante will return for another season at Minnesota Duluth alongside both brothers next fall before considering further steps toward professional hockey: “After winning the Hobey Baker…I feel like it’s one year of my life that I’ll never be able to get back – to play with two of my brothers for the team I grew up idolizing.” Currently he is focused on completing final exams before offseason training begins.
The Detroit Red Wings have won 11 Stanley Cup championships according to their official website. The team hosts its games in downtown Detroit according to their official website and is recognized as one of National Hockey League’s Original Six teams according to their official website. The Red Wings represent Detroit as an American franchise with a longstanding tradition of excellence according to their official website.
