Hockey Canada granted Landon DuPont, a 14-year-old defenceman from Calgary, distinctive participant standing Monday.
Meaning DuPont will likely be eligible for the Western Hockey League draft Could 9 and in a position to play within the league on a full-time foundation beginning subsequent season.
DuPont turns into the primary defenceman and second participant in league historical past to obtain distinctive participant standing.
The primary was Chicago Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard (2020).
DuPont turns into the ninth participant — and third defenceman — in Canadian Hockey League historical past to obtain the designation because it was created in 2005. Others to have obtained the designation embrace Toronto Maple Leafs centre John Tavares (2005), Florida Panthers defencemen Aaron Ekblad (2011) and Edmonton Oilers centre Connor McDavid (2012).
“Landon is a superb younger man, who not solely possesses great expertise on the ice, however has been raised with strong ethical character, a optimistic perspective, and a fantastic work ethic,” stated WHL commissioner Dan Close to.
“These attributes make him really deserving of being amongst these distinctive gamers to come back earlier than him, and we stay up for him persevering with his growth within the WHL.”
Of the seven distinctive standing gamers who’ve graduated from the CHL, six of them have been chosen within the first spherical of the NHL Draft, together with 4 — Tavares, Ekblad, McDavid, and Bedard — who have been chosen first total.
The newest participant earlier than DuPont to obtain distinctive standing was ahead Michael Misa who was chosen first total by the Saginaw Spirit within the 2022 Ontario Hockey League draft. He’s thought-about a prime prospect for subsequent yr’s NHL draft.
“I’m extraordinarily humbled to have obtained this designation,” stated DuPont. “I’m excited to proceed my growth within the WHL and can work exhausting day by day to proceed to enhance.”
The five-foot-11, 170-pound DuPont spent the 2023-24 season at Edge College, an under-18 prep workforce within the Canadian Sport College Hockey League.
He registered 62 factors (19 objectives, 43 assists) in 30 regular-season video games, ending tops amongst defenceman and third total in scoring as Edge captured the league title.
