University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey sophomore Max Plante has been named to the preliminary roster for the 2026 U.S. Men's National Team that will play in upcoming IIHF Men's World Championship, hosted by Zurich and Fribourg, Switzerland from May 15-31, 2026.


In addition to Plante, former Bulldog defensemen Justin Faulk, currently of the Detroit Red Wings, and Wyatt Kaiser of the Chicago Blackhawks were also named to the roster.


Plante was named the 2025-26 Hobey Baker Memorial Award Winner last month, as well as a 2025-26 CCM/AHCA Hockey West First Team All-American, the College Hockey News Player of the Year, the 2025-26 National Collegiate Hockey Conference Player of the Year and UMD's first NCHC Forward of the Year. The Hermantown, Minn. native also earned an All-NCHC First Team selection and was named to the NCAA Tournament Albany Regional All-Tournament Team.


Plante finished the season with 52 points – the most by a Bulldog since 2011-12 – and his 26 goals – the second most in the NCAA to date – is the most since Mike Connolly put up 28 in 2010-11. One of just 28 players to have compiled 51 or more points in a single season in UMD program history (82 seasons,) Plante ranked third in the NCAA in total points (52), game-winning goals (6), eighth in power play goals (8) and points per game (1.30 ppg). 15 games this season Plante registered two or more points, including five with three or more. With a time on ice average of 21:50, Plante also owned a plus/minus rating of +19 and had his first career hat against the University of Omaha on Nov. 14. Against teams in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, Plante had 15 points (6g, 9a) in 14 games, a 1.04 ppg, and that included three points in two NCAA Tournament games.


At 34 years of age, Faulk is the oldest player named to the roster. Faulk, who has played in 1,058 games in the NHL, was traded to the Red Wings in season this past year, and in 17 games, scored five goals and added three assists. Kaiser finished his fourth season with Chicago this past year and had six goals and 11 assists in 75 games.

Team USA looks to capture back-to-back gold medals at the event for the first time. The U.S. Men's National Team will compete in Group A and will take on Austria, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Latvia and host Switzerland in the preliminary round at Swiss Life Arena in Zurich.

The U.S. has earned 14 podium finishes in the history of the IIHF Men's World Championship, including two gold medals (2025, 1933), four silver medals (1950, 1939, 1934, 1931) and eight bronze medals (2021, 2018, 2015, 2013, 2004, 1996, 1952, 1949).