Max Plante, son of former Buffalo Sabres forward Derek Plante, was named the winner of the 2026 Hobey Baker Memorial Award for most valuable player in NCAA hockey this season. The 20-year-old was a 2024 second-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings and won a gold medal for Team USA at the IIHF World Junior in 2025 alongside Minnesota-Duluth teammate and Buffalo Sabres prospect Adam Kleber. 

Plante scored 52 points (25 goals, 27 assists) in 40 games for the Bulldogs last season. The elder Plante played six seasons in Buffalo and is famous for scoring a series-winning overtime goal in Game 7 against the Ottawa Senators in 1997.