Northern Star: Max Plante & Adam Kleber

Team USA's first exhibition game is on Sunday at 4 PM against Germany.

DULUTH, Minn.- The holidays usually give college athletes a time to rest and recover in advance of the 2nd half of the season.

But for current UMD players Max Plante and Adam Kleber, they’re trying to win gold at the 2026 World Juniors.

“Sometime last year when we heard it was going to be here, it was just a goal of ours to be back on this team. Just another step in the process, coming here for training camp in Duluth. So we’re really excited to put the U.S.A sweater on where we play college hockey,” said Kleber.

A chance to compete while also show off one of their favorite places in the country.

“I talk about UMD with them a lot and how cool it is to play here. I don’t think they understand really because not a lot of them have been to Duluth. So it will be really cool to show them like the area of Duluth and how cool it is,” said Plante.

A little play but the main focus is on work.

“I just think the hunger that this group has. We never really got to win the tournament that we wanted to win. Just a lot of guys to want to win hockey games and we get to do it in the U.S,” added Plante.

With a side of revenge.

“Their U-18 world’s year they lost to Canada. Just you know not being on that team, I can see a lot of those guys are still fueled from that. There’s a lot of motivation there that kind of rubs off on guys like me that weren’t a part of that but they still see that. Kind of want to help pull the rope and accomplish that goal,” said Kleber.

Team USA’s first exhibition game is on Sunday at 4 PM against Germany.