Derek Plante, who helped the UMD men's hockey program win its first national championship, is heading to the National Hockey League's (NHL) Chicago Blackhawks. Plante will join the coaching staff for the upcoming 2022-23 NHL season.

"The opportunity to play and coach as a Bulldog has been a dream come true", said Plante. "It has been a great experience to work with and learn from head coach Scott Sandelin. To be a part of such great success including the Bulldogs first national championship will be something I cherish forever. I will always be a Bulldog and I am excited to join the NHL and the Chicago Blackhawks."

Plante, first joined the coaching staff at his alma mater on June 9, 2010 (and again in July of 2020) and ten months later helped lead the Bulldogs to their first-ever NCAA national championship. During his tenure at UMD, the Bulldogs qualified for five NCAA playoff berths (including two frozen fours). In August 2014, Plante served as the head coach for the U.S. Under-18 Select Team at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in Slovakia and Czech Republic where he directed his troops to a third-place finish. He handled an assistant coaching role with Team USA at that international eight-team event the previous season.

"Derek has been the definition of a Bulldog," said Sandelin. "It has been a pleasure to coach with Derek and we are excited to follow his career with the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks."

Plante, a member of the UMD Athletic Hall of Fame (Class of 2009), was a driving offensive force for the Bulldogs for four winters, culminating with a senior year in which he racked up an NCAA-leading 92 points. The Cloquet, Minn. product captained the Bulldogs to the 1992-93 WCHA regular season title and a berth in the NCAA Regionals and, in the process, was chosen as a Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalist, a first team All-American, the USA Hockey Male Athlete of the Year, and the WCHA Player of the Year. In addition, he was an All-WCHA first team honoree as a senior after receiving second team honors the previous winter. Planted closed out his collegiate career with 219 points on 96 goals and 123 assists in 138 outings which currently puts him in a tie for second place on the UMD's all-time scoring charts. His career points per game average (1.58) trails only current Bulldog volunteer assistant coach Bill Watson (1.94 ppg), Keith "Huffer" Christiansen (1.92 ppg) and Brett Hull (1.60). During his final season, he paced the Bulldogs in points for the third winter in a row en route to landing UMD's Most Valuable Player Award an unprecedented third consecutive time.

Plante, went on to enjoy an eight-year stint in the National Hockey League with Buffalo (1993-99), Chicago (1999-2000), Dallas (1998-99 and 1999-2000) where he won a Stanley Cup, and Philadelphia (2000-01), producing 96 goals and 152 assists for 248 points in 450 regular season games. Selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1989 NHL draft (8th round, 161st pick overall), Plante also did time with the International Hockey League's Chicago Wolves (1999-2000) and Michigan K-Wings (1999-2000) and the American Hockey League's Philadelphia Phantoms (2000-01). He spent another seven seasons playing professionally in Europe and Japan before retiring following the 2007-08 season. He skated with Team U.S.A. at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships on seven occasions: 1992, 1993, 1996, and 2000-2004.
 
A search for Plante's replacement will begin immediately.