University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey juniors Ty Hanson and Max Plante were two of the first six players unveiled Thursday for the 2026 U.S. Collegiate Select roster that will head to Switzerland in December.

Hanson, a blueliner from Hermantown, Minn., was a Second-Team All-American last season, as well as a Second-Team All-NCHC honoree.  Hanson racked up 36 points in 40 games last year, which was second nationally among defensemen. His 26 assists tied for second among all NCAA rearguards last year, while chipping in 10 goals. Hanson was most recently tabbed to the 2026-27 Preseason All-NCHC Team.

Plante, a winger from Hermantown, Minn., won the 2026 Hobey Baker Award last season and is the first returning Hobey Baker winner in 19 years. A First-Team All-American, Plante was named NCHC Player and Forward of the Year in 2025-26, along with earning First-Team All-NCHC honors. Last season, Plante was third in the NCAA with 52 points in 40 games, while his 25 goals tied for second nationally. Plante will serve as a UMD co-captain with Hanson this year and was a unanimous Preseason All-NCHC pick. Plante's brother, Zam, played for the U.S. Collegiate Selects last year and his father and former Bulldog great, Derek Plante, also played in the Spengler Cup in 2002, competing with HC Davos where he had five assists in five games.

Bulldog bench boss Scott Sandelin was named an assistant coach for the U.S. Collegiate Select Team in late July. Sandelin played at the University of North Dakota from 1982-86, during which he also competed in the 1982 Spengler Cup. 

All six players named Thursday are returning AHCA/CCM All-Americans from last season and represent four different Division I men's hockey conferences.

The U.S. Collegiate Selects open play at the 2026 Spengler Cup on Saturday, Dec. 26 against Frölunda HC of Sweden before facing host HC Davos on either Dec. 27 or Dec. 28.

The USCS roster, which will feature 25 student-athletes from all six NCAA Division I conferences, will continue to be announced in the coming months.

The Spengler Cup is the oldest invitational hockey tournament in the world, with the first edition held in 1923. The annual competition is held each December between Christmas and New Year's in Davos, Switzerland and features six teams from Europe and North America competing at the Eisstadion Davos.