DuPont joins Conor Bedard as the only two players in WHL history to receive Exceptional Status.

The WHL has officially granted Landon DuPont Exceptional Status. The 14-year-old defenceman joins Connor Bedard as the only two players in WHL history to receive the Exceptional Status designation. As an Exceptional Status Player, Dupont will be eligible to participate in the entirety of the 2024-25 WHL season and will not have a games played cap. 

DuPont is an exceptional talent who is projected to go first overall in the 2027 NHL Entry Draft. The right-shot defenceman finished tied for third in the CSSHL U18 Prep division with 62 points in 30 regular games. DuPont was also named U18 Prep Western Championships MVP after recording 16 points in 15 tournament games as he led Edge School U18 Prep to a championship.

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Listed at 5'11, 170 pounds, DuPont is the son of Micki DuPont, who had a successful WHL career in the 90s. In 259 regular season games with the Kamloops Blazers, Micki Dupont had 212 points and was named CHL Defenseman of the Year in 2000. Micki was also Landon's coach with the Egde School U15 Prep team in 2022-23, where DuPont finished second on the team with 47 points in 27 games. 

Dan Near, via the WHL's press release:

"On behalf of the WHL Board of Governors, I would like to congratulate Landon on being the first defenceman in WHL history to be granted exceptional status by Hockey Canada. 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. These attributes make him truly deserving of being among those exceptional players to come before him, and we look forward to him continuing his development in the WHL.”

Scott Salmond, Senior Vice-President of High Performance and Hockey Operations with Hockey Canada, via the WHL's press release:

"Hockey Canada wishes to congratulate Landon DuPont and his family on the impressive achievement of becoming only the second player to be granted Exceptional Status into the WHL, and the ninth player in the entire CHL. Landon not only boasts impressive hockey ability that will allow him to succeed in the WHL at a young age, but he also possesses the incredible maturity required to be an exemplary young person off the ice.”

Landon DuPont, via the WHL's press release:

“It is such an honour for me to receive Exceptional Player Status from Hockey Alberta and Hockey Canada. I’m extremely humbled to have received this designation. I would like to thank my family, all of my coaches, trainers, advisors and most of all, my teammates, through my entire hockey journey for helping me get to this point. I’m excited to continue my development in the WHL and will work hard every day to continue to improve.”

Up next for DuPont will be the WHL Prospect Draft, where he is expected to be the first overall selection. The Everett Silvertips own this year's first-overall pick thanks to a trade with Kamloops at the 2023 trade deadline in exchange for Olen Zellweger and Ryan Hofer. The 2024 WHL Prospect Draft is currently scheduled for May. 9, 2024.

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