Parts of this story courtesy UMD Athletics, USA Hockey

In just his second season of collegiate hockey, University of Minnesota Duluth sophomore forward Max Plante has been named the 2026 Jim Johannson College Player of the Year by USA Hockey, it was announced on Thursday.

Plante, who is a member of the 2026 U.S. Men's National Team currently playing in the IIHF Men's World Championship was named the 2025-26 Hobey Baker Memorial Award Winner last month, as well as a 2025-26 CCM/AHCA Hockey West First Team All-American, the College Hockey News Player of the Year, the 2025-26 National Collegiate Hockey Conference Player of the Year and UMD's first NCHC Forward of the Year. The Hermantown, Minn. native also earned an All-NCHC First Team selection and was named to the NCAA Tournament Albany Regional All-Tournament Team.

Plante finished the season with 52 points – the most by a Bulldog since 2011-12 – and his 26 goals – the second most in the NCAA to date – is the most since Mike Connolly put up 28 in 2010-11. One of just 28 players to have compiled 51 or more points in a single season in UMD program history (82 seasons,) Plante ranked third in the NCAA in total points (52), game-winning goals (6), eighth in power play goals (8) and points per game (1.30 ppg).

In 15 games this season Plante registered two or more points, including five with three or more. With a time on ice average of 21:50, Plante also owned a plus/minus rating of +19 and had his first career hat against the University of Omaha on Nov. 14. Against teams in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, Plante had 15 points (6g, 9a) in 14 games, a 1.04 ppg, and that included three points in two NCAA Tournament games.

Plante is the fifth Bulldog player in program history to win the award and the first since Scott Perunovich earned it after the 2019-20 season. Max isn't the first Plante to win the award -- his father Derek Plante was UMD's first-ever recipient in 1992-93.

Plante is the third NCHC player to capture Jim Johannson College Player of the Year honors, joining Perunovich in 2020 and Denver defenseman Will Butcher, who won the award in 2017.

Plante will be honored at the USA Hockey President’s Awards Dinner on June 5 in Denver.

In addition to Plante, North Dakota incoming freshman goaltender Caleb Heil was named USA Hockey's 2026 Dave Peterson Goaltender of the Year. Heil appeared in 52 games with the USHL’s Madison Capitols during the 2025-26 season, while also playing in the World Junior A Challenge and the 2026 World Junior Championship with Team USA.