Landon DuPont, the 17-year-old defenseman for the Everett Silvertips, is facing a major career decision as college hockey programs continue to pursue him for his NHL draft year. Top NCAA schools are reportedly making strong recruiting pitches, including significant name, image and likeness opportunities, but DuPont says he is not thinking about his next step while Everett chases the Memorial Cup.
DuPont has been central to the Silvertips’ remarkable season. Everett won its first Western Hockey League championship in franchise history and advanced to Sunday’s Memorial Cup final against the OHL champion Kitchener Rangers. In Friday’s semifinal, DuPont scored twice in a 6-1 win over the QMJHL champion Chicoutimi Saguenéens, helping Everett reach the championship game and strengthening his status as one of hockey’s most watched young prospects.
The Memorial Cup appearance carries added significance for the WHL, which has not won the tournament since 2014. DuPont said the run has created extra motivation for the West, even if he does not view it as added pressure. He emphasized that the team is focused on winning the final for the players whose junior careers may be ending. For DuPont, the game could also be a final junior showcase if he chooses to leave the WHL after the season.
A major storyline around DuPont is whether he will follow recent high-profile players such as Gavin McKenna and Keaton Verhoeff into the NCAA. McKenna had a similar Memorial Cup opportunity before later committing to Penn State, while Verhoeff made the move to North Dakota for his draft year. DuPont, who is graduating high school early, will be academically eligible for college in the fall, though he says that decision is not tied to any commitment and was made to clear school obligations before his draft year.
Silvertips coach Steve Hamilton said the organization has not been involved in DuPont’s future plans and has focused instead on the strong partnership built between player and team. Hamilton praised DuPont’s maturity, humility and ability to rise in big moments, saying the defenseman’s impact has helped Everett reach this level of success. He also noted that DuPont has thrived despite the injury absence of captain Tarin Smith, forming a standout defensive presence before Smith went down.
DuPont’s performance against Chicoutimi further reinforced his reputation. He scored an early goal to set the tone and later added a one-timer for insurance after returning from an undisclosed injury that kept him out of Everett’s round-robin finale. NHL scouts have been closely watching him in Kelowna, not only for this year’s draft-eligible players but also for next season’s talent pool, with DuPont widely projected as a potential top pick in 2027.
The spotlight on DuPont was heightened by Connor Bedard’s attendance at Friday’s semifinal. Bedard, who became the first player granted exceptional status into the WHL, praised DuPont as a special talent capable of eventually stepping into the NHL. DuPont responded with humility, saying he is still learning how to handle older, stronger competition and remains focused on improving his strength and details. For now, his attention remains on one last game, one last chance to win a Memorial Cup, and one more chapter in a rapidly rising career.
