Max Plante named 2026 Hobey Baker Memorial Trophy winner

Plante beats out Eric Pohlkamp and T.J. Hughes to claim college hockey's top individual honor

Apr. 11, 2026 at 1:10am

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a college hockey player in mid-celebration, their form broken into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in vibrant colors, conceptually representing the individual achievement of winning the prestigious Hobey Baker Memorial Trophy.Plante's Hobey Baker win solidifies the University of Minnesota Duluth's status as a college hockey powerhouse.Duluth Today

Max Plante, a sophomore forward for the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs, has been named the winner of the 2026 Hobey Baker Memorial Trophy, recognizing him as the top NCAA Division I men's ice hockey player for the 2025-26 season.

Why it matters

The Hobey Baker Memorial Trophy is considered the most prestigious individual award in college hockey, and Plante's win continues the University of Minnesota Duluth's strong tradition of producing elite talent, having now produced 10 Hobey Baker finalists and one previous winner.

The details

Plante, who was drafted in the second round by the Detroit Red Wings in 2024, finished the season with 52 points, the most by a Bulldog since 2011-12. He had 15 points in 14 games against teams in the 2026 NCAA Tournament and was named to the 2026 U.S. National Junior Team. Plante is the first Bulldog to win the Hobey Baker Award since defenseman Scott Perunovich in 2019-20.

  • The winner was announced in Las Vegas on April 10 at 8:00 p.m. EST.
  • The award ceremony coincided with the 2026 Frozen Four, also taking place in Las Vegas on April 9 and 11 at T-Mobile Arena.

The players

Max Plante

A sophomore forward for the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs and the winner of the 2026 Hobey Baker Memorial Trophy.

Eric Pohlkamp

A finalist for the 2026 Hobey Baker Memorial Trophy, representing the University of Denver.

T.J. Hughes

A finalist for the 2026 Hobey Baker Memorial Trophy, representing the University of Michigan.

Derek Plante

Max Plante's father, who was also previously named a Hobey Baker Finalist.

Scott Perunovich

A defenseman for the University of Minnesota Duluth who won the Hobey Baker Award in 2019-20.

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What’s next

The Wisconsin Badgers will take on the Denver Pioneers on April 11 at 5:30 p.m. EST for the National Championship title.

The takeaway

Plante's Hobey Baker win cements the University of Minnesota Duluth's status as one of the premier college hockey programs in the country, continuing a tradition of developing elite talent that has now produced 10 Hobey Baker finalists and two winners.