{{Short description|American ice hockey player (born 2006)}} {{Infobox ice hockey player | name = Max Plante | image = 2026-05-10 Deutschland gegen USA (Eishockey-Länderspiel) by Sandro Halank–070.jpg | caption = Plante in 2026 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2006|2|20}} | birth_place = Duluth, Minnesota, U.S. | height_ft = 5 | height_in = 11 | weight_lb = 180 | position = Left wing | shoots = Left | league = NCHC | team = Minnesota Duluth | draft = 47th overall | draft_year = 2024 | draft_team = Detroit Red Wings | ntl_team = USA | career_start = 2026 | career_end = }} '''Max Plante''' (born February 20, 2006) is an American college ice hockey player who is a left winger for the University of Minnesota Duluth of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). He was drafted 47th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2024 NHL entry draft. He won the Hobey Baker Award in 2026.
==Playing career== On August 2, 2022, Plante committed to play college ice hockey at Minnesota Duluth.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wdio.com/sports/max-plante-commits-to-umd/ |title=Max Plante commits to UMD |website=wdio.com |date=August 2, 2022 |access-date=March 17, 2026}}</ref> On June 29, 2024, Plante was drafted in the second round, 47th overall, by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2024 NHL entry draft<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2024/06/red-wings-select-skilled-passer-max-plante-in-second-round.html |title=Red Wings select 'skilled passer' Max Plante in second round |website=MLive.com |first=Ansar |last=Khan |date=June 29, 2024 |access-date=March 17, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wdio.com/sports/hermantowns-max-plante-selected-by-detroit-red-wings-in-second-round-of-nhl-draft/ |title=Hermantown’s Max Plante selected by Detroit Red Wings in second round of NHL Draft |website=wdio.com |date=June 29, 2024 |access-date=March 17, 2026}}</ref>
During the 2024–25 season, in his freshman year, he recorded nine goals and 19 assists in 23 games. He led all NCHC rookies with 21 points in conference play, despite only playing 20 NCHC games due to injury. Following the season he was named to the All-NCHC Rookie Team, and named a finalist for the NCHC Rookie of the Year.<ref name="Bio">{{cite web|url=https://umdbulldogs.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/roster/max-plante/8287 |title=Max Plante |website=umdbulldogs.com |access-date=March 17, 2026}}</ref>
During the 2025–26 season, in his sophomore year, he led the team in scoring 25 goals and 27 assists in 40 games. He tied for second among all NCAA players in goals and third in points. During October 2025, he led the NCHC and tied for first nationally with 18 points. He scored nine goals and nine assists in nine games. His nine goals tied for second in the NCAA during the month. He was subsequently named the HCA National Co-Forward of the Month for October.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nchchockey.com/news/2025/11/6/mens-ice-hockey-umds-max-plante-tabbed-hca-national-co-forward-of-the-month-for-october.aspx |title=UMD’s Max Plante Tabbed HCA National Co-Forward of the Month for October |website=nchchockey.com |first=Michael |last=Weisman |date=November 6, 2025 |access-date=March 17, 2026}}</ref> During conference play he ranked fifth in scoring, with 12 goals and 13 assists in 24 games. He was the first player this season to reach 40 points.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/latest-news/red-wings-draft-gem-becomes-first-player-in-college-hockey-history-to-reach-major-milestone |title=Red Wings Draft Gem Becomes First Player in College Hockey To Reach Major Milestone |work=The Hockey News |first=Jake |last=Tye |date=January 25, 2026 |access-date=March 17, 2026}}</ref> Following the season he was the lone unanimous selection to the All-NCHC First Team, and was named the NCHC Forward of the Year and the NCHC Player of the Year. He became the first Bulldog to win the award.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/sports/bulldogs-hockey/max-plante-leads-trio-of-hermantown-bulldogs-on-all-nchc-teams |title=Max Plante leads trio of Hermantown Bulldogs on All-NCHC teams |newspaper=Duluth News Tribune |date=March 10, 2026 |access-date=March 17, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/sports/bulldogs-hockey/bulldogs-max-plante-is-the-2026-nchc-forward-of-the-year |title=Bulldogs' Max Plante is the 2026 NCHC Forward of the Year |newspaper=Duluth News Tribune |date=March 16, 2026 |access-date=March 17, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/sports/bulldogs-hockey/umds-max-plante-named-finalist-for-nchc-player-of-the-year |title=UMD's Max Plante named finalist for NCHC Player of the Year |newspaper=Duluth News Tribune |date=March 4, 2026 |access-date=March 17, 2026}}</ref> He was also named the Hobey Baker Award winner, and an AHCA West First Team All-American.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/sports/bulldogs-hockey/lucky-no-7-max-plante-is-bulldogs-seventh-hobey-baker-winner |title=Lucky No. 7: Max Plante is Bulldogs' seventh Hobey Baker winner |newspaper=Duluth News Tribune |first=Matt |last=Wellens |date=April 10, 2026 |access-date=April 10, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/sports/bulldogs-hockey/bulldogs-max-plante-ty-hanson-named-all-americans |title=Bulldogs’ Max Plante, Ty Hanson named All-Americans |newspaper=Duluth News Tribune |first=Matt |last=Wellens |date=April 10, 2026 |access-date=April 10, 2026}}</ref> His 52 points are the most by a Minnesota Duluth player since the 2011–12 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/max-plante-wins-2026-hobey-baker-award |title=Plante wins Hobey Baker Award as top NCAA men's hockey player |website=NHL.com |date=April 10, 2026 |access-date=April 11, 2026}}</ref>
==International play== {{MedalTableTop||name=}} {{MedalCountry|{{ihj|USA}}}} {{MedalSport|Ice hockey}} {{MedalCompetition|World Junior Championships}} {{MedalGold|2025 Canada|}} {{MedalCompetition|World U18 Championships}} {{MedalSilver|2024 Finland|}} {{MedalBottom}} Plante represented the United States at the 2024 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he recorded two goals and nine assists in seven games and won a silver medal.<ref name="Bio"/>
On December 18, 2024, he was named to the United States men's national junior ice hockey team to compete at the 2025 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/juniors/article/hagens-leonard-augustine-headline-usas-world-juniors-roster/ |title=Hagens, Leonard, Augustine headline USA's world juniors roster |website=Sportsnet |date=December 18, 2024 |access-date=March 17, 2026}}</ref> During the tournament he recorded one goal and two assists in six games and won a gold medal<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thehockeynews.com/news/nhl-draft-notebook-hagens-eklund-and-osmanis-thrive-at-world-juniors |title=NHL Draft Notebook: Hagens, Eklund And Osmanis Thrive At World Juniors |work=The Hockey News |first=Tony |last=Ferrari |date=January 4, 2025 |access-date=January 4, 2025}}</ref>
On December 24 2025, he was again named to the United States men's national junior ice hockey team to compete at the 2026 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uscho.com/2025/12/24/usa-hockey-reveals-25-man-roster-for-2026-iihf-world-junior-hockey-championships-featuring-21-current-ncaa-hockey-standouts |title=USA Hockey reveals 25-man roster for 2026 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship, featuring 21 current NCAA hockey standouts |website=USCHO.com |date=December 24, 2025 |access-date=March 17, 2026}}</ref> During the tournament he recorded one goal in three games, and was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Finland.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2026/wm20/news/71518/usa-fin |title=Finland ends U.S. reign in OT |website=IIHF.com |first=Lucas |last=Aykroyd |date=January 3, 2026 |access-date=March 17, 2026}}</ref> On December 29, 2025, he was injured during a preliminary round game against Slovakia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wdio.com/sports/hermantowns-max-plante-day-to-day-following-undisclosed-injury-against-slovakia/ |title=Hermantown’s Max Plante day-to-day following undisclosed injury against Slovakia |website=wdio.com |date=January 1, 2026 |access-date=March 17, 2026}}</ref>
==Personal life== Plante was born to Derek and Kristi Plante, and has an older brother, Zam, and younger brother, Victor. His father, Derek Plante is a former professional ice hockey player.<ref name="Bio"/>
==Career statistics== ===Regular season and playoffs=== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="5" | Regular season ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="5" | Playoffs |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season ! Team ! League ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM |- | 2022–23 | U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 32 | 5 | 19 | 24 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2023–24 | U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 25 | 6 | 23 | 29 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |- | 2024–25 | University of Minnesota Duluth | NCHC | 23 | 9 | 19 | 28 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2025–26 | University of Minnesota Duluth | NCHC | 40 | 25 | 27 | 52 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" | NCAA totals ! 63 ! 34 ! 46 ! 80 ! 39 ! — ! — ! — ! — ! — |}
===International=== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em;" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Year ! Team ! Event ! Result ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM |- | 2024 | United States | U18 | {{silver2}} | 7 || 2 || 9 || 11 || 2 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2025 | United States | WJC | {{gold1}} | 6 || 1 || 2 || 3 || 4 |- | 2026 | United States | WJC | 5th | 3 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 0 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="4"|Junior totals ! 16 !! 4 !! 11 !! 15 !! 6 |}
==Awards and honors== {| class="wikitable" ! Award ! Year ! |- ! colspan="3" |College |- | All-NCHC Rookie Team | 2025 | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://admin.nchc.tv/news/2025/3/11/mens-ice-hockey-nchc-2024-2025-all-rookie-team.aspx |title=NCHC Reveals 2024-2025 All-Rookie Team |website=nchchockey.com |first=Michael |last=Weisman |date=March 11, 2025 |access-date=March 17, 2026}}</ref> |- | All-NCHC First Team | 2026 | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://nchchockey.com/news/2026/3/10/mens-ice-hockey-nchc-unveils-2025-26-all-conference-teams.aspx |title=NCHC Unveils 2025-26 All-Conference Teams |website=nchchockey.com |first=Michael |last=Weisman |date=March 10, 2026 |access-date=March 17, 2026}}</ref> |- | NCHC Forward of the Year | 2026 | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://nchchockey.com/news/2026/3/16/mens-ice-hockey-max-plante-tyson-gross-earn-2025-26-nchc-individual-forward-awards.aspx |title=Max Plante, Tyson Gross Earn 2025-26 NCHC Individual Forward Awards |website=nchchockey.com |first=Michael |last=Weisman |date=March 16, 2026 |access-date=March 17, 2026}}</ref> |- | NCHC Player of the Year | 2026 | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://nchchockey.com/news/2026/3/19/mens-ice-hockey-umds-max-plante-earns-2025-26-nchc-player-of-the-year-honors.aspx |title=UMD’s Max Plante Earns 2025-26 NCHC Player of the Year Honors |website=nchchockey.com |first=Michael |last=Weisman |date=March 19, 2026 |access-date=March 19, 2026}}</ref> |- | Hobey Baker Award | 2026 | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/48454307/minnesota-duluth-plante-captures-hobey-baker-award |title=Minnesota Duluth's Max Plante captures Hobey Baker Award |website=ESPN.com |date=April 10, 2026 |access-date=April 10, 2026}}</ref> |- | AHCA West First Team All-American | 2026 | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uscho.com/2026/04/10/ahca-names-24-all-americans |title=AHCA names 24 All-Americans|website=USCHO.com |date=April 10, 2026 |access-date=April 10, 2026}}</ref> |}
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== * {{Ice hockey stats |elite=597566 |hockeydb=262578 |nhl=8484870}}
{{s-start}} {{s-ach}} {{succession box | before = Alex Bump | title = NCHC Forward of the Year | years = 2025–26 | after = Incumbemt}} {{succession box | before = Isaac Howard | title = Hobey Baker Award | years = 2025–26 | after = Incumbent}} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Plante, Max}} Category:2006 births Category:Living people Category:AHCA Division I men's ice hockey All-Americans Category:American ice hockey left wingers Category:Detroit Red Wings draft picks Category:Hobey Baker Award winners Category:Ice hockey people from Minnesota Category:People from Duluth, Minnesota Category:Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs men's ice hockey players Category:USA Hockey National Team Development Program players Category:21st-century American sportsmen