UMD's Max Plante wins the Hobey Baker Award

Trey Augustine won the Mike Richter Award, and more from Friday at the Frozen Four

Max Plante delivered a season worthy of college hockey’s highest individual honor — and on Friday night in Las Vegas, it was officially recognized.

The Minnesota Duluth sophomore forward was named the Hobey Baker Award winner at the Frozen Four, capping a dominant 2025-26 campaign. Plante finished with 52 points — 25 goals and 27 assists — in 40 games, emerging as one of the most dynamic offensive players in the country.

In doing so, Plante becomes the first sophomore to win the Hobey Baker since Cole Caufield in 2021, and the first Minnesota Duluth player to capture the award since Scott Perunovich in 2020.

But the night wasn’t just about hardware.

Moments after accepting the award, Plante revealed he will return to Minnesota Duluth for his junior season, a significant development for the Bulldogs as they look ahead to 2026-27. A second-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings in the 2024 NHL Draft, Plante’s decision could have easily gone the other way. Instead, it was driven by something more personal.

He already shares the ice with his brother, Zam, and with his youngest brother, Victor, expected to join the program next season, the opportunity to play together proved too meaningful to pass up.

“[Victor coming to UMD] was a huge motivator, just the fact to have the chance to play with my two brothers at that high of a level and to try to achieve something that I haven’t achieved yet, to win the national championship,” Plante said. “That’s kind of the goal that I had coming into college hockey. Obviously, there’s a lot of work to do before we get there, but to be able to do that with not only my brothers but guys that I’ve gotten to know really well in my two years at UMD.”

Plante edged out Denver defenseman Eric Pohlkamp and Michigan forward T.J. Hughes for the award, separating himself in a field loaded with high-end talent.

The decision to return wasn’t made lightly.

“My parents gave me some great advice,” Plante said. “It’s probably one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make, but I just went with my gut. I feel like this is the right thing to do. I feel like it’s what I wanted all along.”

Trey Augustine put a definitive stamp on his season Friday night, earning the Mike Richter Award at the Frozen Four as college hockey’s top goaltender.

The Michigan State netminder, who has since joined the Detroit Red Wings organization following the Spartans’ loss to Wisconsin in the regional final, finished the year with a 2.11 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage.

According to CHN’s proprietary CHIP metric, Augustine narrowly edged UMass goaltender Michael Hrabal as the top performer between the pipes this season. He also ranked third nationally in goals saved above expected (+22.9), trailing only Lawton Zacher (Northeastern) and Josh Kotai (Augustana).

Elsewhere on awards night, Kevin Anderson of Princeton was named the recipient of the Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award. The senior forward recorded five points in 33 games for the Tigers, with his impact extending well beyond the scoresheet.

Quinnipiac freshman Ethan Wyttenbach added to his breakout campaign by capturing the Tim Taylor Rookie of the Year honors. Wyttenbach led the nation in scoring with 59 points in 40 games, emerging as one of the sport’s most electrifying young talents.

The Hockey Humanitarian Award was presented to Meg Simon of Middlebury.

The AHCA All-America teams were also announced:

First Team East
G — Michael Hrabal, Jr., Massachusetts
D — Brandon Holt, Sr., Maine
D — Cole Hutson, Soph., Boston University
F — James Hagens, Soph., Boston College
F — Hayden Stavroff, Soph., Dartmouth
F — Ethan Wyttenbach, Fr., Quinnipiac

First Team West
G — Trey Augustine, Jr., Michigan State
D — Jake Livanavage, Jr., North Dakota
D — Eric Pohlkamp, Jr., Denver
F — T.J. Hughes, Sr., Michigan
F — Porter Martone, Fr., Michigan State
F — Max Plante, Soph., Minnesota Duluth

Second Team East
G — Lawton Zacher, Jr., Northeastern
D — Tyler Dunbar, Jr., Union
D — Chris Hedden, Sr., Air Force
F — Dylan Hryckowian, Jr., Northeastern
F — Jack Musa, Jr., Massachusetts
F — Felix Trudeau, Sr., Sacred Heart

Second Team West
G — Josh Kotai, Jr., Augustana
D — Ty Hanson, Sr., Minnesota Duluth
D — Evan Murr, Jr., Minnesota State
F — Tyson Gross, Jr., St. Cloud State
F — Gavin McKenna, Fr., Penn State
F — Charlie Stramel, Sr., Michigan State