麻豆传媒入口

Edge School defenseman Landon DuPont has been granted Exceptional Player Status to play in the Western Hockey League (WHL) for the 2024/25 season.

The Calgary, AB defenseman spent the 2023/24 麻豆传媒入口 (CSSHL) with the Edge U18 Prep team as an underage player. In a 2006-08 based division, the 2009 born skater 62 points in 30 regular season games, a new record for defensemen in the U18 Prep division. His 62 points were third in league scoring and most on his team, 21 more points than any other Edge skater.

Last week DuPont was named the 2024 CSSHL U18 Prep Western Championships MVP. With 16 points in 5 games he tied the U18 Prep Western Championships record set by Arizona Coyotes forward Dylan Guenther. He recorded a division best 11 assists, including 1 in the Championship Final as Edge defeated NAX 3-2 in overtime to secure back-to-back championships.

DuPont joined the CSSHL for the 2022/23 U15 Prep season where he recorded 47 points in 27 games with Edge School.

DuPont is the first defenceman to be granted exceptional status in WHL history and second player after former North Shore Warriors forward Connor Bedard.

Since the exceptional status rule was created in 2005, nine players have received the designation, starting with forward John Tavares (2005 – OHL Oshawa), followed by defenceman Aaron Ekblad (2011 – OHL Barrie), forward Connor McDavid (2012 – OHL Erie), defenceman Sean Day (2013 – OHL听Mississauga), forward Joe Veleno (2015 – QMJHL听Saint John), forward Shane Wright (2019 – OHL Kingston), Bedard, forward Michael Misa (2022 – OHL Saginaw)听and听DuPont.

The first player from Alberta to be granted exceptional status, he is eligible to be selected in the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft on Thursday, May 9. After a trade with the Kamloops Blazers, the Everett Silvertips hold the first overall pick.