Men's Ice Hockey | 4/2/2026 3:50:23 PM

United States Hockey League alumni Max Plante of Minnesota Duluth and Eric Pohlkamp of Denver are among three finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, recognizing college hockey’s top player.

Each year, the Hobey Baker is bestowed upon the player who best exhibits strength of character on and off the ice, contributes to the integrity of the game, and displays outstanding skills in all phases of the game. Eight of the last 10 Hobey Baker winners played in the USHL, including the last five in Macklin Celebrini (Boston University, Chicago Steel), Adam Fantilli (Michigan, Chicago Steel), Dryden McKay (Minnesota State, Madison Capitols), Cole Caufield (Wisconsin, NTDP), and Scott Perunovich (Minnesota Duluth, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders).

Max Plante, F, Minnesota Duluth (NTDP, 2022-24)
Plante has been one of the top offensive producers in college hockey, finishing third in NCAA scoring with 25 goals and 27 assists for 52 points in 40 games. The Detroit Red Wings prospect has taken a major step offensively during his sophomore season, nearly doubling his points and scoring 16 more goals than in his first year. Before college, Plante developed with the NTDP, where he posted 11 goals and 42 assists over 57 USHL games.

Eric Pohlkamp, D, Denver (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, 2021-23)
Pohlkamp led NCAA defensemen in scoring this season with 18 goals and 21 assists in 41 games.  The junior defenseman and San Jose Sharks prospect took a major step offensively while continuing to provide stability on the back end for the Frozen Four-bound Pioneers with a +25 rating. Before college, Pohlkamp played two seasons in the USHL with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, recording 23 goals and 46 assists in 120 games and being named the league’s top defenseman in 2023.

About the USHL

The United States Hockey League and its 16 member clubs are committed to being the leading 16–20-year-old junior hockey league in the world. More than half of Division I men’s hockey roster spots are held by USHL alumni and more than 195 alumni were listed on NHL rosters at the start of the 2024-25 season.

The league's player-first approach, including a 2:1 practice-to-game ratio and a schedule with 92% of games played on weekends, provides its players with the optimal environment for athletic and personal growth, creating pathways for the next generation of stars like Kyle Connor (Youngstown Phantoms), Macklin Celebrini (Chicago Steel), Cole Caufield (NTDP), Adam Fantilli (Chicago Steel) and Jeremy Swayman (Sioux Falls Stampede).