CALGARY — Hockey Canada awarded special player status to 14-year-old defenseman Landon Dupont from Calgary on Monday.
CALGARY — Hockey Canada awarded special player status to 14-year-old defenseman Landon Dupont from Calgary on Monday.
This will make Dupont eligible to enter the Western Hockey League draft on May 9th and allow him to play full-time in the league next season.
Dupont became the first defenseman and second player in league history to receive exceptional player status.
The first was Chicago Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard (2020).
Dupont becomes the ninth player and third defenseman to receive this designation in Canadian Hockey League history since its creation in 2005. Other players with this designation include Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares (2005) and Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad (2011). ) and Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (2012).
The 5-foot-11, 170-pound Dupont spent the 2023-24 season with Edge School, an under-18 prep team in the Canadian Sports School Hockey League.
He tallied 62 points (19 goals, 43 assists) in 30 regular season games, leading defenseman and third overall in scoring as the Edge won the league title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 8, 2024.
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