Everett Silvertips defenseman Landon DuPont has been named WHL Player of the Week for the week ending December 29, the Western Hockey League announced.
The 15-year-old was previously named Rookie of the Month for September and October and Rookie of the Week on September 30.
DuPont led all WHL skaters this week with three goals and two assists in two games.
The Everett Silvertips faced the Seattle Thunderbirds in front of nearly 9,000 fans at Climate Pledge Arena on December 27. Seattle struck first, but DuPont found the equalizer on an early powerplay. Tyler MacKenzie took a pass down low and immediately centered for a wide-open DuPont in the slot for the one-timer. The teams were tied 2-2 in the second period, but DuPont wired a stretch pass to a streaking Caine Wilke, who slid the puck to Shea Busch for a point-blank wrister and the go-ahead goal. Everett would cruise to a 5-3 victory from there.
The following night, the rivalry matchup shifted north to Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett for the rematch. The 2023 WHL Champion Thunderbirds drew first blood again, but DuPont evened things up again on the man advantage. DuPont picked up a long rebound down low and worked the spin-o-rama to fire the puck off the far post and in. Everett would carry a 2-1 lead midway through the second period, and DuPont added to the total with his second goal of the night — another spinning effort from the slot. He added a secondary assist Carter Bear’s backhander in an eventual 6-1 victory. DuPont was named first star of the game with a two-goal, one-assist effort.
DuPont, the first exceptional status defenseman to play in the WHL, has nine goals and 28 assists for 37 points and a +22 rating in 31 games. He leads all WHL rookies in assists, points and plus-minus, and ranks second among all CHL first-year players in points.
The 5-foot-11, 179-pound rearguard is also on a five-game point streak and has only been held off the scoresheet once in December.
Everett selected DuPont with the first overall pick in the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft.
Prior to a New Year’s Eve game against Portland, the Silvertips (27-5-2-1) were 8-2-0-0 in their last 10 games to remain first in the overall WHL standings while scoring the most goals and allowing the fewest goals against.
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