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Minnesota Duluth placed three juniors on the National Collegiate Hockey Conference preseason all-conference team announced Tuesday, giving the Bulldogs half of the six-player lineup selected by media members.
Forwards Max Plante and Zam Plante and defenseman Ty Hanson were selected less than three weeks before UMD opens the 2026-27 season. All three are Hermantown graduates and will serve as Bulldogs captains.
Max Plante was the only unanimous selection, appearing on all 33 ballots. Hanson received 26 votes, the second-highest total among all players, and Zam Plante received 18.
The three UMD juniors were joined by North Dakota forwards Cole Reschny, defenseman Keaton Verhoeff and goaltender Jan Špunar.
Max Plante returns after winning the 2026 Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s top player. The Detroit Red Wings draft pick also was named the NCHC player and forward of the year and earned first-team all-conference and All-America honors.
Plante led the NCHC with 25 goals and 52 points in 40 games last season. His six game-winning goals tied for the conference lead. He produced 12 goals and 25 points in 24 NCHC games, the highest conference scoring total among returning players.
Max Plante and Hanson will serve as UMD’s co-captains.
Hanson earned second-team All-NCHC and All-America honors after recording 10 goals and 36 points in 40 games. His 26 assists led all NCHC defensemen, and his 36 points ranked second among conference blue-liners.
Hanson had six goals and 18 points in 24 conference games.
Zam Plante, a Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick, will serve as an alternate captain after earning third-team All-NCHC honors last season. He finished second in the conference behind his brother with 51 points, including 20 goals and 31 assists. He had nine goals and 24 points in 24 NCHC games.
The three selections give UMD one of the conference’s most accomplished returning cores. Max and Zam Plante combined for 45 goals and 103 points last season, while Hanson helped drive the Bulldogs’ offense from the blue line.
North Dakota filled the other three positions on the preseason team.
Reschny, the reigning NCHC rookie of the year, recorded six goals and 35 points in 36 games as a freshman. The Calgary Flames first-round draft pick received 17 votes.
Verhoeff received 23 votes after posting six goals and 20 points in 36 games. The San Jose Sharks first-round pick was named to the NCHC all-rookie team.
Špunar received 17 votes after winning the conference’s goaltender of the year award and helping North Dakota capture the Penrose Cup. He finished 20-5-1 with a 1.91 goals-against average, a .919 save percentage and an NCHC-leading six shutouts.
Media members selected three forwards, two defensemen and one goaltender. Thirty-three ballots were submitted by reporters covering the conference and selected national college hockey media members.
The NCHC preseason media poll will be released Wednesday.
2026-27 preseason All-NCHC team
Forwards
Max Plante, Minnesota Duluth, junior — 33 votes, unanimous
Zam Plante, Minnesota Duluth, junior — 18
Cole Reschny, North Dakota, sophomore — 17
Defensemen
Ty Hanson, Minnesota Duluth, junior — 26
Keaton Verhoeff, North Dakota, sophomore — 23
Goaltender
Jan Špunar, North Dakota, sophomore — 17
