Landon DuPont gets exceptional status to play in WHL

Landon DuPont is the first exceptional status defenseman in WHL history.

The league granted the Calgary-born blue-liner the rare designation Monday on behalf of Hockey Canada and Hockey Alberta.

DuPont is a 14-year-old who'll turn 15 on May 28. He'll be eligible for the upcoming WHL draft on May 9.

The five-foot-11, 170-pound rearguard played this season at Edge School, an under-18 prep team in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League. He racked up 62 points (including 19 goals) in 30 regular-season games, finishing first at the position and third overall in scoring while leading his school to the league title.

The only other WHLer to gain exceptional status was Connor Bedard in 2020. DuPont is the ninth CHLer and third defenseman to earn the distinction, which the latter league introduced for the three leagues under its umbrella (also including the OHL and QMJHL) in 2005.

Connor McDavid (2012), Aaron Ekblad (2011), and John Tavares (2005) are among the others to have been granted exceptional status. Seven players carrying the label graduated from the CHL, and six of them were selected in the first round of the NHL draft. The four aforementioned players were all taken first overall.

Michael Misa is the most recent player to earn the honor, doing so ahead of last season. He's now a productive 17-year-old winger for the OHL's Saginaw Spirit and is projected to be a top prospect in next year's NHL draft.