Plante wins Hobey Baker Award as top NCAA men's hockey player | NHL.com

His older brother, Zam Plante, 21, is a Minnesota Duluth teammate who was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the fifth round (No. 150) of the 2022 NHL Draft. Their younger brother, Victor Plante, who plays for USA Hockey's National Team Development Program Under-18 Team, is No. 36 on NHL Central Scouting's midterm ranking of North American skaters for the 2026 NHL Draft and committed to play at Minnesota Duluth next season. Their father, Derek Plante, played 450 NHL games from 1993-2001, is a professional scout for the Ottawa Senators, and was a Hobey Baker Award top-10 finalist as a senior at Minnesota Duluth in 1992-93.

Max plans to return to Minnesota Duluth to play alongside his brothers, putting off his professional career for at least one more season.

“That was a huge motivator,” Max 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.”

Max Plante and Derek Plante are the second father-son duo to be named Hobey Baker finalists. Jason Blake (1999) and son Jackson Blake (2024) were finalists when each played at the University of North Dakota.

"Max would probably be the first one to deflect (winning the Hobey Baker) and say he's been around good teammates and players that have helped him get there," Minnesota Duluth coach Scott Sandelin said. "That's just the kind of person he is. Obviously we're really excited for him."

Hughes, a 24-year-old senior and Michigan's captain, is second in the NCAA with 57 points (22 goals, 35 assists) in 40 games. He was held off the score sheet eight times this season and had 18 multipoint games. He won the Big Ten Player of the Year award. It was the second straight season he led the Wolverines in scoring.

Pohlkamp leads NCAA defensemen with 39 points (18 goals, 21 assists) and 188 shots on goal in 42 games. The 22-year-old junior, who played one season at Bemidji State University before transferring to Denver for the 2024-25 season, was selected by the Sharks in the fifth round (No. 132) of the 2023 NHL Draft.

“(Max is) a heck of a player to play against,” Pohlkamp said. “I’m just super fortunate to be in the top three and be in this event.”

Denver will play Wisconsin in the NCAA Tournament championship game Saturday (5:30 p.m. ET;  ESPN2, ESPN+).

“This is the main reason why I came to Denver, to win a national championship,” Pohlkamp said. “Luckily enough, we get a chance to do that (Saturday). It’s going to be a loud atmosphere. I’m really looking forward to it.”