If you haven't heard the name Landon DuPont yet, expect that to change soon.
DuPont, 14, is expected to receive exceptional status to play in the Western Hockey League as soon as next week, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on Hockey Night in Canada's "Saturday Headlines" segment.
Friedman noted that this would be big news for the Everett Silvertips.
"Everett won the WHL lottery and will have the No. 1 overall pick," Friedman said. "The announcement has not been made on DuPont yet, but the belief is it will be given to him next week."
The Calgary native will become just the second player to receive exceptional status in the WHL, joining Connor Bedard as the only other in league history.
The exceptional status label will allow DuPont to play in the league as a 15-year-old.
DuPont will become the ninth player in CHL history to be granted the status, joining Bedard, OHL stars John Tavares (2005), Aaron Ekblad (2011), Connor McDavid (2012), Sean Day (2013), Shane Wright (2109), Michael Misa (2022), as well as Joe Veleno (2015) in the QMJHL.
Not bad company to join.
In 2023-24, Dupont has 19 goals and 43 assists in 30 games while playing with the Edge School U-18 Prep team in Calgary.
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