Is There a Favorite Between the Three Finalists for the Hobey Baker Award? Puck Drop

Michigan Senior Forward TJ Hughes
Minnesota Duluth Sophomore Forward Max Plante
Denver Junior Defenseman Eric Pohlkamp
Outdoor Game Tops Busy Day for Western Michigan
Patrick Kane the NHL's All-Time Leading American Scoree
Puck Drop: Friday, April 3, 2026
Hockey Quote of the Day
We'll Leave You With This ...

The Hobey Baker Memorial Award announced its three "Hat Trick" Finalists for the 2026 honor for the most outstanding college hockey player, with the winner to be announced Friday, April 10, during the Frozen Four weekend in Las Vegas.

In alphabetical order, the three finalists are Michigan senior forward T.J. Hughes, Minnesota Duluth sophomore forward Max Plante, and Denver junior defenseman Eric Pohlkamp.

Per the Hobey Baker selection rules, "Criteria for the award includes: displaying outstanding skills in all phases of the game; strength of character on and off the ice; sportsmanship and scholastic achievements."

There's been no clear frontrunner for the award this season, but the guess here is that Hughes is the player to beat, with a slight edge over Plante. Reasons include being the best player on the best team, he came back for a final season after many thought he would go pro last year, he has a slight edge in overall scoring (1.44 points per game compared to 1.33), edge in postseason scoring, he's a senior who played all four seasons and a team captain.

Plante supporters will point to having an edge in goals (25-21), game-winning goals (6-4), power-play goals (8-5), and shorthanded goals (2-0). He has more flash, but it might just come down to the fact that Michigan made it to the Final Four and UMD fell just short — that's how tight the selection may be,

Pohlkamp is an outstanding player, but one thing that will hurt him significantly in the final voting is that Plante was named the Player of the Year over him in the NCHC.

But decide for yourself. Here are the bios collected the Hobey Baker Foundation, with a couple of additions:

Michigan Senior Forward TJ Hughes

Setting a remarkable standard of consistency, Hughes has averaged over a point per game in each of the past three seasons, becoming the Big Ten’s all-time points leader in conference games. Topping Michigan in scoring for the second straight season, the team captain was named First Team all-conference and the Big Ten Player of the Year. The top-ranked Wolverines enter the Frozen Four tournament with Hughes second in the nation in scoring and third in assists. Along the way, he piled up 18 multiple point games.

• Has 21 goals, 35 assists for 56 points in 39 games
• Is 57.8 percent on faceoffs
• Is third in the nation in points per game (1.44)
• is 10th in the nation in goals
• Is a free agent; sports management major; has three goals, six assists in four postseason games.. Won head-to-head game with Plante team in Regional Finals.

Minnesota Duluth Sophomore Forward Max Plante

The apple didn’t fall far from the Plante family tree. Max is a Hobey finalist just like his dad Derek was back in 1993 while also playing for the Bulldogs. Playing on a line with his brother Zam and Jayson Shaugabay, Max started the season on fire collecting points in 11 of his first 13 games. His outstanding second season in Duluth was rewarded with First Team all-conference honors, NCHC Forward of the Year and the NCHC Player of the Year. Plante also played for Team USA at the 2026 World Junior Championship.

• Finished with 25 goals, 27 assists for 52 points in 40 games
• Detroit draft pick (secnd round, 2024)
• Had eight power play goals and 15 multiple point games
• Third in the nation in shots, third in points and is tied for second in goals
• Communications major and scholar-athlete; had 15 multiple point games; Three goals and two assist in four postseason games.

Denver Junior Defenseman Eric Pohlkamp

Pohlkamp is the nation’s top scoring defenseman and his 18 goals so far is an NCHC record by a defenseman. That’s because he’s a prolific shooter, leading the nation with 185 shots (average 4.5 per game), 27 more than the next closest skater. He’s also launched 25 shots in four playoff games heading into the Frozen Four. Pohlkamp was recognized as First Team all-conference, the NCHC Offensive Defenseman of the Year and was a finalist for the NCHC Player of the Year. Pohlkamp leads the nation’s defensemen in points and goals.

• Has 18 goals, 21 assists for 39 points in 41 games; has six power play goals
• Communications major, marketing minor
• San Jose draft pick (fifth round, 2023)
• Member of the U.S. Selects of NCAA players at the Spengler Cup tourney in Switzerland in December; Played his freshman season at Bemidji State; • One goal and two assists in four postseason games.

It was a tight race between the three finalists last year as well, between between Michigan State forward Isaac Howard, Boston College forward Ryan Leonard, and Denver defender Zeev Buium. Howard won, averaging 1.41 points per game. When the voting occurred he was fifth in the nation in scoring (52 points) and tied for third in goals (26) in 37 games.

As a reminder, the other seven candidates were as follows:

Trey Augustine, G, Michigan State University
James Hagens, F, Boston College
Gavin McKenna, F, Penn State University
Hayden Stavroff, F, Dartmouth College
Charlie Stramel, F, Michigan State University
Felix Trudeau, F, Sacred Heart University
Ethan Wyttenbach, F, Quinnipiac University

Outdoor Game Tops Busy Day for Western Michigan

The Broncos had a very busy day in terms of news, beginning with the announcement that Western Michigan will host Michigan for an outdoor game on Jan. 30, 2027 at Waldo Stadium. The official seating capacity for football is 30,200. Western Michigan has played at Soldier Field in the Hockey City Classic (2015) and at Comerica Park in the Great Lakes Invitational (2013). The Broncos are 2-1-0 in outdoor games, including a win over the Wolverines in the opening round of the GLI in 2013, but this will be the first time as the host. In case you're wondering, the average high temperature in Kalamazoo on Jan. 30 is 30 degrees.

"We can't wait to see our entire community join the Lawson Lunatics in filling up Waldo Stadium for this one-of-a-kind experience," said athletic director Dan Bartholomae, "and what is even better — we are transforming our stadium into a multi-day outdoor ice facility that can host several community partners and organizations over several days for what can truly be a united community effort. This is an opportunity for the entire state of Michigan to celebrate the sport of hockey right here on WMU's campus."

• The Edmonton Oilers signed forward Owen Michaels, Western Michigan's captain, to a one-year entry-level contract beginning in the 2025-26 season. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Kings signed both forward Grant Slukynsky to a one-year entry-level contract through the 2026-27 season, and his brother, goaltender Hampton Slukynsky, to a three-year entry-level contract.

• Western Michigan also announced the Broncos Will Reign Collective as the official NIL collective of Bronco Athletics through a strategic sponsorship agreement with Van Wagner's Bronco Sports Partners, WMU's multimedia rights holder.

It’s not an April Fools joke … ! Many thanks to Aaron Zeigler & Jim Culhane for the inspiration to get this off the ground, to @DiscoverKzoo & @umichhockey for the partnership, & to our great WMU partners, admin and coaching team for the heavy lift!

Join us at Waldo next year! https://t.co/E32YkS6jSS
— Dan Bartholomae (@danbart3) April 2, 2026

Patrick Kane the NHL's All-Time Leading American Scoree

Patrick Kane had a goal and two assists to become the all-time leading American scorer in the NHL as the Detroit Red Wings defeated that Philadelphia Flyers, 4-2.

If you're sitting there thinking, "Wait, I thought he just did that a couple of month ago," that's when Kane became the leader among American-born players. Specifically, he surpassed Mike Modano to become the all-time leading scorer among U.S.-born NHL players with his 1,375th career point on Jan. 29.

With his goal against the Flyers, Kane got his 1,392nd point to pass former UMD left wing Brett Hull for 26th in NHL history. He finished the game at 1,393 (506 goals, 887 assists). Hulll, who is a Canadian–American with dual citizenship who was born in Belleville, Ontario, finished his career with 1,391 total points (741 goals, 650 assists) in 1,269 career NHL regular-season games.

We're not exactly sure why there a huge fanfare for Kane topping Modano's mark, and not Hull's, but the achievements are remarkable nonetheless.

Patrick Kane (1,392 career points) has passed Brett Hull (1,391) for sole possession of 26th place on the @NHL's all-time scoring list! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/gcQf0ygSn2
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) April 3, 2026

Puck Drop: Friday, April 3, 2026

• The U.S. Collegiate Selects are signed up for at least the next two Spengler Cups in Switzerland, 2026 and 2027, after reaching the championship game in 2025. "We are once again looking forward to exciting and refreshing hockey," Marc Gianola of the organizing committee said in a statement. "The 'college boys' bring new energy and a positive spirit to our traditional tournament." Also playing in the 2026 tournament on Dec. 26-31 are Frölunda HC (Sweden), SCL Tigers (Switzerland), and host HC Davos.

• Massachusetts Hockey introduced its 2026 Hall of Fame Class:Jim Madigan (Northeastern coach/AD), Jay Miller (New Hampshire), Mike Mottau (Boston College), Chris Nilan (Northeastern), and Larue Renfroe. The induction will be held May. 2.

• The website Pokes Insight reported that Oklahoma State hockey, backed by donor Michael Mann, is pushing for D-I status with “serious momentum” by 2030. The club team is set to host an outdoor game at Boone Pickens Stadium in January.

• Former Wisconsin forward Cole Caufield is one goal away from 50 on the season: He scored No. 48 and 49 of the season to lead to Montreal to its seventh straight win with a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The last Canadiens player to score 50 goals in a season was Stephane Richer (51) in 1989-90.

COLE CAUFIELD SCORES HIS 49TH GOAL OF THE SEASON!!!! 🤯

He is Mr. Every Night‼️ pic.twitter.com/qAJM2nTiZL
— NHL (@NHL) April 3, 2026

• Speaking of Wisconsin, it will expand its partnership with UW Health to begin featuring the company’s logo on Badgers’ uniforms in women’s basketball, hockey, volleyball and softball.

• The College Hockey News reported that St. Cloud State alum Nick Oliver, as assistant coach with Wisconsin, has emerged as the leading candidate for the vacant St. Cloud State coaching job.

• Providence forward Roger McQueen signed an Amateur Tryout Agreement with the Anaheim Ducks. He was the 10th-overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft.

• Denver landed a commitment from Ryan Lin, a 17-year-old from Richmond, British Columbia, who is projected as being a solid first-round selection in the 2026 NHL Draft. He has 57 points in 53 games played this season with the WHL's Vancouver Giants.

• Women's transfer portal news: Freshman forward Ellie Zakrajsheck is heading from Minnesota Duluth to Dartmouth, and freshman defender Linnea Misner is going from Robert Morris to Vermont.

• Former Michigan State forward Porter Martone made his NHL debut with the Philadelphia Flyers and notched his first point.

First NHL point of many for Porter Martone. #DETvsPHI | #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/DZtZ6aStfk
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) April 3, 2026

Hockey Quote of the Day

[On why he wouldn’t cut his hair] “It would hurt attendance.”
Mike Peluso (Alaska Anchorage)

We'll Leave You With This ...

Former Western Michigan goaltender:

Since Brandon Bussi’s sophomore year in college, hehas created a goalie mask every season in honour of his younger brother, Dylan, who has autism. With a strong personal connection, Bussi is proud to use his platform now to continue advocating with and for the community 🫶… pic.twitter.com/6nw0zQ8Llw
— NHLPA (@NHLPA) April 2, 2026