EXCEPTIONAL INDEED

Landon DuPont is just the second player ever to be awarded exceptional status for the WHL. And it’s as much a recognition of his maturity as it is his skill

BY RYAN KENNEDY

TRADITIONALLY, the WHL hasn’t been in much of a hurry to grant exceptional status to players. In fact, Connor Bedard was the first back in 2020. Four years later, the ‘Dub’ has its second – and its first exceptional defenseman at that. Landon DuPont was made eligible for full-time play a year early thanks to his preternatural skills on the ice but also because of his level head outside the rink. The process of determining if a player deserves exceptional status is based on research by a panel that always includes interviews with the player and those who know him best, as well as an essay portion. That off-ice component is just as much a factor as the game the applicant brings to the table. “When that report came back, it…

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The Hockey News (Digital) - 1 Issue, Draft Preview 2024

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