Max Plante
An outstanding second year player, the sophomore forward from Hermantown, Minnesota has been one of the top scorers in the nation all season long. Teamed up with his brother Zam and Jayson Shaugabay, the trio formed one of the most formidable forward lines across college hockey this past season. Max proved early on this was going to be a special year as he collected points in 11 of his first 13 games of the season.
As the Bulldogs closed out the season with a one-goal loss to Michigan in the NCAA Albany Regional final, Max completed the season with 25 goals and 27 assists for 52 points in 40 games. That positions him third in the nation in points and tied for second in goals. He averaged 3.8 shots per game (152 total) to finish third in the country in shots. He was also top ten in the nation in game winning goals (6), power play goals (8), short-handed goals (2) – all while averaging 1.30 points per game, eighth in the nation. Plante also produced 15 multi-point games.
Plante was recognized with a truck-load of awards including: National Collegiate Hockey Conference Player of the Year, NCHC Forward of the Year, First Team all-conference, College Hockey News Player of the Year and he was named the National Forward of the Month for October when he picked up nine goals and nine assists in his first nine games.
Max’s dad Derek was a Hobey Baker top ten finalist in 1993 as a senior for Minnesota Duluth; went on to a nine-year NHL career, plus five seasons in Europe, before landing with the Bulldogs as an assistant coach for seven years and three more seasons as an assistant with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Max competed for Team USA at the World Junior Championship for two years (2025 and 2026). The NCHC Scholar-Athlete is a Communications major and lends his spare time assisting at youth hockey clinics and learn to play programs. Max is a second-round draft pick of the Detroit Red Wings (2024).
Top Ten:
- Finished with 25 goals, 27 assists for 52 points in 40 games – Detroit draft (2nd round, 2024)
- Had 8 power play goals and 15 multiple point games – is 3rd in the nation in shots, 3rd in points and is tied for 2nd in goals
- Communications major and Scholar-Athlete – had 15 multiple point games
Career Stats
2026 Runner Up
Senior, Forward, Hamilton, Ontario
During his collegiate career at the University of Michigan from 2022 to 2026, T.J. Hughes developed into one of college hockey’s premier offensive centers and game-managers. After putting up 36 points in his 2022–23 freshman campaign and helping Michigan win a Big Ten tournament title, he raised his production to 48 points as a sophomore and 38 points as a junior. Serving as team captain during his senior 2025–26 season, Hughes delivered a career-best performance with 22 goals and 35 assists for 57 points in 40 games, finishing fourth in the nation in points per game (1.42). His dominant final collegiate campaign saw him lead Michigan to another Big Ten championship while earning Big Ten Player of the Year, Big Ten Tournament MVP, AHCA West First Team All-American honors, and selection as a top-three finalist for the prestigious Hobey Baker Award. He finished his Michigan career with 179 points in 156 games, ranking among the top scoring leaders in modern program history. Throughout his time at Michigan, Hughes was also heavily committed to off-ice community involvement and volunteer work, which included:
- C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital Visits: Spending time with pediatric patients and supporting children’s healthcare programs in Ann Arbor.
- Team IMPACT Partnership: Engaging directly with children facing serious or chronic illnesses matched with the Michigan hockey program.
- Student-Athlete Mentorship: Participating in Michigan Athletics leadership programs, including the Career Center subcommittee and Athletes in Real Estate Club.
Junior, Defense, Brainerd, Minnesota
Pohlkamp was the nation’s top scoring defenseman and his 18 goals is an NCHC record by a defenseman. That’s because he’s a prolific shooter, as he led the nation with 188 shots (average 4.4 per game), 30 more than the next closest skater. He also launched 28 shots in six playoff games. Pohlkamp was recognized as First Team all-conference, the NCHC Offensive Defenseman of the Year, was a finalist for the NCHC Player of the Year and was named a First Team All American. Pohlkamp led the nation’s defensemen in points and goals. Pohlkamp will forgo his senior season and signed a pro contract with the San Jose Sharks.
- Finished with 18 goals, 21 assists for 39 points in 43 games – had 6 power play goals
- Communications major, Marketing minor –San Jose draft (5th round, 2023)
- Member of the U.S. Selects of NCAA players at the Spengler Cup tourney in Switzerland in December – played his freshman season at Bemidji State Univ.