14-year-old defenseman Landon DuPont breaks one of Bedard's records

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James Connelly
April 8, 2024 (9:02 PM)

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14-year-old defenseman Landon DuPont is projected to be a top pick in 2027 and has now officially beaten out one of Connor Bedard's records.

Everybody knows who Connor Bedard is but before he was a household name and an NHL star, he was the first player in WHL history to be granted exceptional status.

Today, the WHL has accepted its second exceptional status player, defenseman Landon DuPont.

He is exceptional.

Landon DuPont has been granted Exceptional Player Status and is eligible to play in the WHL on a full-time basis beginning with the 2024-25 WHL Regular Season.

DuPont now holds the record for the youngest WHL exceptional status player as he is not fifteen for another month and a half while Bedard was 15 when he was granted exceptional status.

What makes DuPont so exceptional?

DuPont, as a 14-year-old, playing against players up to three or four years older than him, was hands down the best player on the Edge School U18 Prep team scoring 62 points in 30 games.

Here are some clips of DuPont on the ice:

There are levels to Landon DuPont's game.

At 14 years old, the product of Calgary, Alta. is ready to bring his exceptional-level talents to the WHL!

Landon Dupont is set to receive exceptional status.

He'll be the 1st defenseman in WHL history to earn it. Just the 3rd blueliner in CHL history.

Here's hoping he's more Aaron Ekblad than Sean Day (sorry, Sean)

DuPont is not draft-eligible till 2027 but when the time comes around he will have the pressure of being a former exceptional status player and potential top pick.

Source - Blade of Steel
Fourteen-year-old granted exceptional status by the WHL