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University of Minnesota Duluth honored six players with its 2025-26 men’s hockey team awards Wednesday, headlined by sophomore forward Max Plante, who capped a historic season as the Bulldogs’ most valuable player.
Plante, a Hermantown native, received the Keith Christiansen Award after one of the most decorated individual campaigns in program history. The recent Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner was also named a CCM/AHCA First Team All-American and College Hockey News Player of the Year, while earning Player of the Year honors in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference — becoming just the second Bulldog to do so and the program’s first Forward of the Year.
Plante finished with 52 points, the most by a UMD player since the 2011-12 season, and scored 26 goals, the program’s highest total since Mike Connolly’s 28 in 2010-11. He ranked among the NCAA leaders in scoring, placing third in total points and game-winning goals (six), while adding eight power-play goals and a +19 rating.
Plante recorded multiple points in 15 games, including five outings with at least three, and averaged 21 minutes, 50 seconds of ice time per game. He also contributed 15 points in 14 games against NCAA tournament teams and added three points in two postseason contests.
Senior defenseman Riley Bodnarchuk and sophomore forward Zam Plante shared the Pat Francisco Award, recognizing contributions to the community. Bodnarchuk, from Okotoks, Alberta, volunteered extensively in Duluth and his hometown, supporting causes ranging from youth hockey clinics and food banks to adaptive recreation events and anti-human trafficking initiatives. Plante was active in youth outreach locally, including classroom reading programs and youth hockey involvement.
Team captain Joey Pierce earned the Goldie Wolfe Award as UMD’s most inspirational player. A four-time NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete, the Hermantown defenseman appeared in 139 career games and totaled 18 points, providing steady leadership on and off the ice.
Freshman forward Hunter Anderson was named Rookie of the Year, receiving the Jerry Chumola Award after producing 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists). The Manhattan Beach, California, native closed the season with four points over his final three games, including a game-winning goal in the NCAA regional semifinal against Penn State.
Sophomore goaltender Adam Gajan claimed the Mike Sertich Award as the team’s most improved player. The Poprad, Slovakia, native posted a 19-13-1 record with a 2.25 goals-against average, nearly tripling his win total from his freshman season. Gajan elevated his play in the postseason, recording four games with at least 27 saves.
