GREENWOOD, Ind. – For their performance on the ice and in the classroom, three student-athletes from the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) have earned a spot on the 2025-26 Academic All-America Men’s At-Large Team, as selected by College Sports Communicators (CSC) and announced by CSC on Wednesday.
 
Denver senior defenseman Kent Anderson and DU junior defenseman Boston Buckberger were both named First-Team Academic All-America by CSC, while Minnesota Duluth sophomore forward Max Plante was tabbed to the Academic All-America Third Team. This marks the second straight year the NCHC is home to three Academic All-Americans and ties for the National’s most in one season. Denver also had two honorees last year in Jack Devine and Matt Davis.
 
The NCHC trio are three of only eight Division I men’s hockey players selected to the Academic All-America At-Large Team, with Anderson and Buckberger two of only four on the First Team. A total of 45 student-athletes from across 10 NCAA sports were named to this year’s Academic All-America Men’s At-Large Team, with 17 honorees on the First Team and 14 each on the Second and Third Teams as selected by CSC members.
 
Anderson is one of only 11 male student-athletes nationally to repeat on the Academic All-America Division I At-Large Team this year and one of only three men’s hockey players. Anderson was named a Second-Team Academic All-American by CSC after his sophomore season in 2024. He is only the second NCHC student-athlete to be a two-time CSC Academic All-American along North Dakota’s Nick Mattson in 2014 and 2015.
 
Plante, meanwhile, becomes one of only three NCAA Division I men’s hockey student-athletes to earn both AHCA All-American honors and CSC Academic All-America Team accolades this year (2025-26 season), along with Michigan State junior goalie Trey Augustine and UMass senior goalie Michael Hrabal.
 
The Men’s Academic All-America At-Large Team consists of student-athletes from the NCAA Division I men’s sports of fencing, golf, gymnastics, hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, volleyball, water polo and wrestling.
 
Anderson (Calgary, Alberta) served as captain of the Pioneers this past season, guiding Denver to the 2026 NCAA National Championship and the 2026 NCHC Frozen Faceoff title. The blueliner was named the 2025-26 NCHC Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year, as well. In his final season at DU, Anderson tallied two goals, two assists and 40 blocked shots, including scoring the double-overtime game-winner at the NCAA Frozen Four to beat Michigan. He finished his college career with 22 points (6g/16a) in 150 career games before signing with his hometown Calgary Wranglers in the American Hockey League (AHL).
 
Academically, Anderson graduated from Denver in June with his bachelor’s degree in finance while posting a 3.94 grade point average. He earned the 2024 NCAA Elite 90 Award before winning the first of his two NCAA championships with DU. Anderson is a four-time NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete and four-time AHCA All-American Scholar. He is also a three-time CSC Academic All-District Team member, along with now being a two-time Academic All-American.
 
Buckberger (Saskatoon, Sask.) was an assistant captain for Denver this past season while helping the Pioneers capture the program’s 11th National Championship. He was named Third-Team All-NCHC in 2025-26 after racking up 29 points and scoring 10 goals from the blue line to go with 43 blocked shots and an NCHC-best +32 plus/minus. Buckberger signed an NHL contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets in April as a free agent.
 
Academically, Buckberger is an accounting major with a 3.95 GPA and is continuing his school work towards his bachelor’s degree despite turning pro. He was named to the CSC Academic All-District Team for the second straight year this season after earning the 2025 NCAA Elite 90 Award at the Frozen Four. Buckberger finished his college career as a three-time NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete and a three-time AHCA All-American Scholar.
 
Plante (Hermantown, Minn.) was an assistant captain for the Bulldogs this past season, helping lead a UMD turnaround that saw them reach the NCHC Frozen Faceoff title game and NCAA regional final. The Detroit Red Wings draft pick was named the 2026 Hobey Baker Award winner, the NCHC Player of the Year and NCHC Forward of the Year this past season. Plante led the NCHC with both 52 points and 25 goals as a sophomore, including six game-winners, in 40 games. He earned First-Team All-NCHC and First-Team All-America accolades in 2025-26, as well.
 
In the classroom, Plante carries a 3.56 GPA while majoring in communication. He is a two-time NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete and two-time member of the NCHC Honor Roll. Plante garnered his first CSC Academic All-District Team accolade this year, as well.
 
To be eligible for Academic All-America honors, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically with at least a 3.50 cumulative grade-point average (on a 4.0 scale) at his/her current institution. Student-athletes must have participated in at least 90 percent of their team’s games this season or started 66 percent of the games. They also had to be named to the Academic All-District Team in June. CSC, previously known as CoSIDA, serves as the voting body for all Academic All-America Teams.
 
Anderson, Buckberger and Plante were among 24 NCHC student-athletes to earn 2025-26 CSC Academic All-District honors in June. The NCHC is now home to 15 CSC Academic All-Americans in its 13-year history.
 
ALL-TIME ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA TEAM MEMBERS FROM THE NCHC
Kent Anderson, Denver – 2026
Boston Buckberger, Denver – 2026
Max Plante, Minnesota Duluth - 2026
Matt Davis, Denver – 2025
Jack Devine, Denver – 2025
Tim Washe, Western Michigan - 2025
Kent Anderson, Denver – 2024
Aidan Fulp, Western Michigan – 2023
Tanner Laderoute, Minnesota Duluth - 2023
Clark Kuster, St. Cloud State - 2020
Gabe Levin, Denver - 2016
Larkin Jacobson, Denver - 2015
Nick Mattson, North Dakota - 2015
Nic Dowd, St. Cloud State - 2014
Nick Mattson, North Dakota - 2014