Landon DuPont (Photo via Jenn Pierce, WHL)
Hockey Canada has officially granted 14-year-old Calgary native Landon DuPont exceptional player status.
That means DuPont – the son of former Kamloops Blazers defenceman Micki DuPont – will be eligible for next month’s Western Hockey League draft, where he’s expected to be taken first overall.
As an exceptional player, DuPont will be able to play in the WHL on a full-time basis as a 15-year-old this fall, instead of having to wait until he turns 16.
“It’s such an honour for me,” DuPont – who turns 15 on May 28 – said Monday. “I’m extremely humbled to have received this designation.”
The five-foot-eleven defenceman scored 19 goals and added 43 assists this season, giving him 62 points in 30 games with Edge School, an under-18 prep team in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League.
The Calgary native is the first defenceman and second player in WHL history to receive exceptional player status, after Chicago Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard in 2020. He’s also the ninth exceptional player – and third defenceman – in CHL history since the designation was created in 2005.
“Landon is a fine young man, who not only possesses tremendous talent on the ice, but has been raised with solid moral character, a positive attitude and a great work ethic,” WHL Commissioner Dan Near said.
Epsiode 9 – @RivershoreGL
– Who’s buying? We make predictions.
– Micki Dupont joins us. 19 year pro career. Son Landon is expected to be 1st pick in next WHL Draft.
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The Everett Silvertips have the first overall pick in the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft, a pick they acquired from the Blazers in the Olen Zellweger trade in January last year.
Zellweger went on to be named the 2023 Canadian Hockey League Defenceman of the Year – the first Blazer to win the award since Micki DuPont in 1999-2000.
The elder DuPont put up 212 points (55 goals and 157 assists) in 256 WHL regular season games with the Blazers between 1996 and 2000. He then embarked on a 19-year professional hockey career, and played over 1,200 games in North America and Europe.
There are levels to Landon DuPont’s game.
At 14 years old, the product of Calgary, Alta. is ready to bring his exceptional-level talents to the WHL! pic.twitter.com/o6EW9F9ZJG
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 8, 2024
List of CHL Exceptional Players:
- John Tavares, forward (2005 – OHL Oshawa)
- Aaron Ekblad, defenceman (2011 – OHL Barrie)
- Connor McDavid, forward (2012 – OHL Erie)
- Sean Day, defenceman (2013 – OHL Mississauga)
- Joe Veleno, forward (2015 – QMJHL Saint John)
- Shane Wright, forward (2019 – OHL Kingston)
- Connor Bedard, forward (2020 -WHL Regina)
- Michael Misa, forward (2022 – OHL Saginaw)
- Landon DuPont, defenceman (2024 WHL Draft)
– With files from The Canadian Press
