Landon DuPont keeps adding to his trophy case.
The Everett Silvertips defenseman was named CHL Rookie of the Year on Friday. After scoring 60 points (17 goals, 43 assists) in 64 games to earn WHL Rookie of the Year, which was announced in April, DuPont beat out Owen Sound’s Pierce Mbuyi (OHL) and Shawinigan’s Matvei Gridin (QMJHL) to become the first defenseman in 30 years to win the CHL award.
“It’s a great honor,” DuPont told reporters at the awards ceremony in Toronto on Friday. “Obviously, looking at all the names on that trophy was pretty special. Obviously, you look up to those guys and you watch those guys on the TV, so it’s pretty surreal to see your name by them.”
The Everett Silvertips selected DuPont first overall in the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft after he was granted exceptional status to play full-time in the WHL a year early, and he made an impact right away as a top four defenseman while playing the entire season as a 15-year-old. After turning 16 on May 28, DuPont is also the second-youngest player to earn CHL Rookie of the Year at 16 years and 16 days old. Only John Tavares (15 years, eight months and seven days) was younger when he earned it with the OHL’s Oshawa Generals in 2005-06.
DuPont is the first player in Silvertips franchise history to win the award, and just the third defenseman in the CHL. He joins Bryan Berard (1994-95) and Philippe Boucher (1989-90) on the exclusive list of blueliners.
The Calgary, Alta. native was tied for the second-most points among all CHL rookies this season, and first among rookie defenseman with seven more than Vancouver’s Ryan Lin (53 points) and 20 more than Soo’s Chase Reid in the OHL (40), who ranked second and third, respectively. Beyond this season, DuPont’s 60 points were the fourth-most among CHL U17 defenseman since 1990. DuPont credited the work he put in during the offseason as the reason behind his seamless transition into the WHL, as well as the support from his teammates.
“I worked really hard in the gym, and all that. I try to push myself as hard as I can so I can be ready for that next jump, and I think that’s what helped,” DuPont said. “But I think also just my teammates. Those first couple months in the WHL, you’re just trying to get your feet wet in the league, and those guys help you with it.”
DuPont helped the Silvertips finish with the best regular-season record in the WHL this season (48-12-4-4) to earn the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy, but Everett was eliminated in the second round of the WHL Playoffs by the Portland Winterhawks in seven games. Despite missing three games with an undisclosed injury, DuPont finished third on the team with 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in 10 games during the postseason. His 1.50 points per game not only led the Silvertips, but ranked highest among rookies and second-highest among defenseman (Portland’s Tyson Jugnauth — 1.83) in the WHL playoffs.
“Just going through it once and knowing what to expect going into next year is going to help a lot,” DuPont said. “Just having that experience in the playoffs, like those older guys have.
“I’m just excited to go back there next year and hopefully win the championship.”
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