Hockey Canada and Hockey Alberta have granted 14-year-old defenseman Landon DuPont exceptional status, allowing him to play in the WHL as a 15-year-old next season.
DuPont is the ninth player in CHL history to receive exceptional status, joining a decorated shortlist of players — which includes Michael Misa, Shane Wright, Connor Bedard, Sean Day, Connor McDavid, Aaron Ekblad, John Tavares and Joe Veleno — to be granted an early entry into Canadian major junior hockey. DuPont joins Day and Ekblad as the only defensemen to receive the honors.
“It’s very humbling, and I’m very honored to have been granted this,” Dupont told assembled media in Calgary on Monday afternoon. “But I still have so much hard work and so much room to fill, and it’s just one of the steps to the next level.”
From left to right, Landon DuPont’s parents, Landon, WHL commish Dan Near and Hockey Canada’s Scott Salmond. https://t.co/UTNXLsWtpj pic.twitter.com/jwl7SWv9AL
— Julian McKenzie (@jkamckenzie) April 8, 2024
Exceptional status isn’t automatically granted to just any spectacular young talent, said Scott Salmond, senior VP of hockey operations at Hockey Canada.
Given the risks associated with placing an underage talent alongside more physically developed players, Hockey Canada conducted extensive background checks on DuPont. The Calgary native was also required to fill out a written test and undergo an interview with Hockey Canada representatives.
“Certainly, when you watch Landon play, you’re drawn to his skill, his skating, his talents, his edge work, his vision on the ice,” Salmond said. “But when you have the opportunity to meet him and talk to him and get to know him a little bit, you also understand the idea of exceptional character, exceptional integrity, exceptional maturity. Which — for a 14-year-old young man, and for a 15-year-old next year to play in the league with 20-year-olds — is incumbent.”
Landon DuPont Announced As The Second Exceptional Status Player In #WHL History@TheHockeyNews https://t.co/9vDugnni5x
— Adam Kierszenblat (@Adamkblat) April 8, 2024
Another factor in determining whether to let a player take the next step early is whether staying back in their current age group would be detrimental to their development.
“It can be a forward, it can be a defenseman, it can be a goaltender. If they’re at the level where playing with their peers, another year would be detrimental, then I don’t think that’s doing a service to the player or to the system,” Salmond said.
DuPont has recorded 62 points in 30 CSSHL U-18 games with Edge School, coached by his father, Micki DuPont, a former pro defenseman who played 23 games NHL games between the Calgary Flames, Pittsburgh Penguins and St. Louis Blues.
“I know 100 percent we’re going to be visiting as much as possible wherever he ends up,” said DuPont’s mother, Erin. She added that they’re still figuring out the living situation at this point, “but No. 1 is just making sure we’re always supporting him and that he has fun and continues to love hockey.”
While the process itself to get exceptional status can be stressful at times, DuPont said he tried not to think about it and have fun on the ice with his teammates while trying to win each game.
“I just tried to ignore all the other stuff, and I had a great support system around me,” he said. “My parents and all my supporters and agents are just really helpful with just worrying about my season.”
From one exceptional status player to another 🤝
Connor Bedard shares a special message to Landon DuPont! pic.twitter.com/FEdTFdinYq
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 8, 2024
Since Bedard is the only other player who entered the WHL a year early, league commissioner Dan Near said they have been getting counseling from the Regina Pats on the player experience.
“I think that we’re very, very mindful of trying to create an environment that is not overwhelming or disruptive to Landon’s life as a young man, as a teenager, as a high school student,” Near said. He also said he expects DuPont and Bedard will share experiences with each other in the long term and learn from one another, as will their parents.
The Everett Silvertips are expected to select DuPont with the first overall pick in the 2024 WHL prospects draft on May 9. For more WHL coverage, visit The Hockey News’ WHL site.
Related: Who is Landon DuPont, the Second Player To Be Granted Exceptional Status in the WHL
Related: Tavares to Bedard: Eight CHL Players Given Exceptional Status Before Landon DuPont
News Summary:
- Landon DuPont Officially Granted Exceptional Status Into WHL; What Happens Now?
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