Calgary-native Landon DuPont will be the next player granted exceptional status by the CHL, with the league reportedly set to announce the decision on Monday, April 8, according to Sportsnet’s Eric Francis.
The potential of the 14-year-old defenceman receiving his eligibility was first reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on a Saturday Headlines segment on Hockey Night in Canada on March 30.
However, a date hadn’t been finalized as to when the CHL would announce the move.
The exceptional status label will allow DuPont to play full-time in the league as a 15-year-old.
According to Francis, a Hockey Canada panel made the decision after evaluating DuPont as well as talking to his coaches, teachers and a psychologist who “assessed his ability to handle such a step.”
Fans of the Everett Silvertips should be pleased, as the Northern Washington-based team recently won the lottery and received the No. 1 overall pick in the WHL Prospects Draft.
DuPont will become the ninth player in CHL history and the second WHL player to receive exceptional status, joining only Connor Bedard.
Others to receive the special status are OHL stars John Tavares (2005), Aaron Ekblad (2011), Connor McDavid (2012), Sean Day (2013), Shane Wright (2019), Michael Misa (2022), as well as Joe Veleno (2015) in the QMJHL.
In 2023-24, Dupont has 24 goals and 54 assists in 35 games while playing with the Edge School U-18 Prep team in Calgary.
He is the son of former Calgary Flames defenceman Micki DuPont.
