Red Wings prospects Victor Plante and JP Hurlbert (top, white) participate in drills for the USNTDP's Junior team in preparation for the 2026 World Junior Summer Showcase (Photo Credit: Max Smith) When it comes to squaring off against older, bigger, NHL caliber prospects, Victor Plante likely has a leg up on the rest the incoming freshman class of Division I NCAA hockey players.
But, one imagines that comes with the territory when you have two older brothers who are as skilled as Zam and Max Plante in your house before any formalized notion of hockey is formed. However, for the first time in the youngest Plante’s career, he’ll get to officially wear the same sweater and play for the same team as his brothers on ice for the upcoming season.
‘I mean, it’s a great league, I mean, probably the best league coming into pro hockey,’ Plante said, ‘I’m just excited for it.’ Plenty of bite to go with the bark It’s no secret if you’ve read the scouting reports or stat sheets that the way Victor goes about his business on ice is different than either of his brothers. He doesn’t quite have the eye popping offense of Hobey Baker winner Max.
Or the vision of his brother Zam, who frequently acted as the set up man on Minnesota Duluth’s top line alongside Max last year. The eldest Plante finished the year with 20 goals and 31 assists, one point behind Max. The way Victor makes his bread and butter is by keeping close to the puck and being near impossible to drive off.
The 5-foot-9 forward almost had more penalty minutes last season (71) in the National Development Program than his two older brothers have if you combine their playing careers (78) before going to Minnesota Duluth. The gap gets even smaller when you factor in the four minute he served in a 20 game stint with the Program’s USHL team. But, Plante certainly isn’t all brawn.
Plante-Ing the best foot Plante potted a combined 66 points across 77 games last year while making a name for himself as one of the hardest players to go up against in the draft while playing in the USNTDP. After the summer is over, he’ll be making his debut in Division I Hockey as a Bulldog. There will certainly be plenty of expectations leveled at the young forward as he follows in the footsteps of the rest of his family, including his father Derek Plante in Duluth.
With UMD set to square off against powerhouses like the University of Denver, last year’s NCAA Champions and Western Michigan University, who prevented the Pioneers from establishing part two of a three-peat in 2025, Plante will have plenty of opportunity to show why the Red Wings decided to take him with the same draft slot as they did with his older brother.
‘I’m just excited to play real, meaningful games against older, better players. I mean, it’s probably the best league going into pro hockey.’ Plante said.