Max and Zam Plante are making college hockey history. They are the first pair of brothers on the same team to lead the NCAA in points. Moreover, the Plante brothers have hockey in their blood. Their grandfather, Bruce, was a highly-decorated coach in their hometown of Hermantown, MN. Their father, Derek Plante, played his college hockey at The University of Minnesota-Duluth, where Max and Zam now play. That was before going on to have an eight-year career in the NHL, winning a Stanley Cup with the Dallas Stars in 1999.

The Plante Brothers Terrorizing Goalies in College Hockey in 2025-26

Now, over thirty years after their father captained the Bulldogs, his sons Max and Zam currently rank first and second in the NCAA in points, respectively. Max sits at 23 points, while Zam has tallied 22 so far this year. Max and Zam are making college hockey history this season at Minnesota-Duluth as the first set of brothers on the same team to sit atop the NCAA points leaderboard together. Their Bulldogs are off to a hot start, leading the year off with an 11-3 record and currently ranked #4 in the nation. Max, a 2024 second-round pick for the Detroit Red Wings, and Zam, a 2022 fifth-round pick for the Pittsburgh Penguins, aim to take their program and their own games to even greater heights this year in pursuit of their program’s fourth National Championship.

The sophomore forwards have amazing chemistry, as you might expect, given that they have been playing together their whole lives. However, each has their own set of skills that they bring to the ice. Theses skills complement, not only each other, but the rest of their Bulldog teammates as well.

Max and Zam are both staples on the Bulldogs’ special teams units. The brothers are active on power plays and penalty kills, showcasing their ability to be true 200-foot players at the next level. On the power play, their chemistry is on full display with Zam finding a home on the right side of their formation and Max playing the bumper, frequently assisting his brother’s goals. Despite their size, they aren’t afraid to play a physical style when necessary. This includes battling for pucks along the boards and using their bodies and sticks to break up passes, block shots, and play the body against their matchup.

Max Plante

Max is a 5’11″, 175 lb forward with a great two-way presence and passing ability. He plays with an up-tempo, high-octane edge that allows him to showcase his vision and hockey IQ. He has a solid shot and gets pucks on net from tough spots on the ice, beating goaltenders with his quick release. He’s more likely to force the issue offensively than his brother, but still knows when the right time to be aggressive is and when to show more restraint.

Due to his smaller size, Max will need to add some muscle weight before he heads to the professional level. He has top-six forward potential, especially on the offensive end, and could earn a shot at the big club right away based on Detroit’s needs. Max was also recently named the National Co-Player of the Month for October by the Hockey Commissioners Association and will likely be a candidate for more accolades as the season continues.

Zam Plante

Zam, the older of the two brothers, stands 5’10″ and weighs 170 lbs. He currently sits second in the nation in assists with 15, so far this season. Zam plays a more patient offensive game than Max, slowing down upon his zone entries, while allowing plays to develop away from him. He’ll drive the pace of play when needed and will utilise his natural playmaking ability to set his teammates up and create offensive opportunities in settled possessions and in transition.

He is always looking to exploit gaps in the defensive coverage. Zam constantly has his head on a swivel, surveying defenders and waiting for the most opportune time to move the puck or make a move to push the play. His power play one-timers are becoming a signature part of his game this year, and he has the potential to be a big-time contributor to an NHL power play unit in the future. Like his brother, he will also need to add some weight and get stronger before making the jump to the pro game.

Upcoming International Competition

Both brothers will be busy on the ice this holiday season. Max is expected to lead the US Team in the 2026 World Junior Championship in Minnesota, and Zam was selected to compete on the first-ever US Collegiate Selects Team at the 2025 Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland. Their father, Derek, played in the 2002 Spengler Cup with HC Davos, so the family is no stranger to the tournament, comprised of club teams from across the world with no set age cap. Both tournaments start on December 26, 2025. They will provide great opportunities for the brothers to demonstrate that they aren’t solely reliant on each other to produce at a high level and that their styles of play will translate to the pro game despite being undersized by modern professional hockey standards.

Pro Outlook

Both brothers find themselves in interesting spots with their respective NHL clubs. Detroit and Pittsburgh both currently sit in playoff position after being picked to finish towards the bottom of the standings by many this preseason.

Detroit has been one of the surprising stories of the early NHL season, currently sitting in first place in the Atlantic Division. Max is one of the Red Wings’ higher upside prospects on the offensive end, which should lead him to a shot at a roster spot at the NHL level. He is still eligible to play another year of college hockey in 2026-27, so we will have to wait and see where he ends up for next season.

Pittsburgh has also found success early this year after being picked to finish at the bottom of the Eastern Conference by most. With veteran superstars like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin leading the way, the Penguins are utilising their mix of young and old players to their advantage and keeping the hopes up in Pittsburgh for a successful season. This provides Zam the opportunity to step into a team competing at a high level, with a chance to learn from one of the best in the sport in Crosby, rather than being part of a full rebuild, as many expected.