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DULUTH, Minn. — Five University of Minnesota Duluth hockey players were named Tuesday to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Men's At-Large Team, highlighting the Bulldogs' success both on the ice and in the classroom during the 2025-26 season.
Defensemen Ty Hanson, Adam Kleber and Joey Pierce, along with forwards Max Plante and Zam Plante, were among 24 National Collegiate Hockey Conference student-athletes selected for the honor. The award recognizes top performers in NCAA men's sports based on a combination of athletic achievement and academic excellence.
Minnesota Duluth's five selections were second only to Western Michigan, which placed six players on the Academic All-District Team. St. Cloud State had four honorees, while Colorado College placed three. Arizona State, Denver and North Dakota each had two selections.
Four Bulldogs — Hanson, Kleber, Max Plante and Zam Plante — were also named Academic All-America finalists and advanced to the national ballot. The 2026 Academic All-America teams will be announced July 8.
Hanson and Max Plante were among the nation's top performers on the ice this season. Both earned American Hockey Coaches Association All-America honors, while Max Plante captured the 2026 Hobey Baker Award as college hockey's top player and was named NCHC Player of the Year.
Kleber added NCHC Defensive Defenseman of the Year honors, while Hanson and both Plante brothers earned All-NCHC recognition.
Pierce received Academic All-District honors for the second consecutive year.
The Academic All-District Team recognizes student-athletes who maintain at least a 3.50 cumulative grade-point average while also making significant contributions to their teams. Eligible athletes must be at least sophomores academically and athletically and must have participated in at least 90% of their team's games or started 66% of contests during the season.
The NCHC's 24 Academic All-District selections represented seven conference schools. Ten players advanced as Academic All-America finalists, including the Minnesota Duluth quartet, Arizona State forward Cruz Lucius, Denver defensemen Kent Anderson and Boston Buckberger, North Dakota defenseman Abram Wiebe, and Western Michigan brothers Grant and Hampton Slukynsky.
The Academic All-District program includes athletes from fencing, golf, gymnastics, hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, volleyball, water polo and wrestling.
