Silvertips’ DuPont embraces pressure from Memorial Cup, recruiters

“It’s a huge opportunity and we’re all super excited,” he added. “For some guys on the team, it’s going to be their last junior game. It’s a pretty good way to go out, so I’m going to try to make sure they go out on a high.”

That could include DuPont, as well, if he jumps to the college level.

McKenna had this opportunity a year ago but came up short when his Medicine Hat Tigers fell to the OHL’s London Knights in the Memorial Cup final. The WHL hasn’t won this tournament since 2014.

“The West is such a great league and they’ve came close so many times, like last year,” said DuPont. “I don’t think there’s added pressure, but there’s definitely extra motivation for us to get that job done and try to bring it home for the West.”

This win would cement DuPont’s legacy in Everett and the WHL, even if he doesn’t return next season.

“Obviously, there’s been a lot of great players coming through this tournament. A lot of great players have won this tournament and some have lost,” he continued. “I think it’s a really cool opportunity to get your name on that Cup. I’m sure I’m going to have a tough time sleeping (Saturday night), thinking about the possibility of holding that trophy (on Sunday) with the boys.”

McKenna moved on from that defeat, announcing his commitment to Penn State a month later. He was the biggest name to leave the CHL, but Verhoeff is the closest comparable to DuPont as a fellow defender with a similar birthdate.

Verhoeff graduated high school a year early and headed to North Dakota for his draft year. DuPont is also graduating ahead of schedule, thus will be academically eligible for college in the fall as a potential underage freshman.

“That’s not because I’ve made up my mind on anything. Even without the rule change, I would have done it, just to have school out of the way and be able to focus on hockey in my draft year and try to limit the distractions,” said DuPont.

This debate over DuPont’s future hasn’t been an elephant in Everett’s room. The hockey world is speculating but the Silvertips are simply enjoying their present success — and DuPont’s presence, for as long as it lasts.

“Zero. I have no idea. We don’t discuss it,” Silvertips head coach Steve Hamilton said of his involvement in DuPont’s decision. “We talk a lot about partnerships with the players, and Landon’s lived up to his end of the bargain as an exceptional player. And I think Everett’s lived up to our side too, and that’s why it’s been such a good fit.”

As for DuPont’s impact, Hamilton highlighted the “humility that he does things with” in acknowledging the Silvertips and the WHL as a whole have been fortunate to be part of his journey toward NHL stardom.

“It’s been two amazing years that he’s just grown a ton and I think his ceiling is nearly unlimited,” Hamilton said of the projected top prospect for the 2027 NHL draft.

“I really don’t believe we’re in this situation without him,” continued Hamilton. “Especially due to the injury to (captain) Tarin Smith. They were as good a duo as you would find in junior hockey, and Landon has been able to keep carrying the mail here. That says a lot about his maturity and where he’s at, because big stage and big moments, but he seems to be built for them.”

That was evident in Friday’s semifinal when DuPont delivered two goals, including what stood up as the winner on a first-period snipe before blasting a one-timer for more insurance in the second period. It was an emphatic return to the lineup after sitting out Everett’s round-robin finale with an undisclosed injury.

A lot of NHL scouts are in Kelowna watching the draft-eligibles — including DuPont’s new defence partner, Brek Liske — but they are also taking notes for next year, wanting to see whether DuPont can step up when the stakes are high. He proved that throughout Everett’s playoff run after Smith went down, but his semifinal performance was an exclamation point.

“Everyone wants to be the guy that comes out of his shell in those big games, and doesn’t shy away from the big games at all,” DuPont said of rising to the occasion with his clutch contributions. “I don’t really feel that pressure at all. I just like to go out there and have fun. Those big games are so fun for me, when everyone’s watching and the lights are so bright.”

The spotlight will be even brighter for Sunday’s final, with the Montreal Canadiens exiting the NHL playoffs and Canada losing in the semifinals of the world championship tournament. All eyes will now be on the Memorial Cup — and DuPont.

“No butterflies, just excitement,” he said. “It’s cool playing at such a stage like this, in such a big tournament like this. I remember being five, up until last year, just watching the Memorial Cup, wishing I could play there one day. And being here, it’s truly surreal.

“It hasn’t really hit me, and I don’t think it’s hit anyone else, so it’s going to be a lot of emotions.”

But, alas, no breaking news from the Memorial Cup in terms of what’s next for DuPont.

“I don’t have anything lined up right now. Like I said before, I’m kind of just focused on this event … trying to soak it all in,” he said. “We’ve got one more game left and we’re going to leave it all out there.”

BEDARD IMPRESSED WITH SILVERTIP

Along with the NHL scouts, another impressed spectator from Friday’s semifinal was Connor Bedard — the first player granted exceptional status into the WHL, four years before DuPont became the first defenceman to earn that distinction.

“He’s such a special player. Even getting to watch him today, you see just how much he stands out and how much talent he has,” Bedard said during an intermission segment on TSN. “He could step into the league next year if he was old enough. It’s going to be exciting for the NHL when he comes in.”

Flattered by Bedard’s endorsement, that he may be ready to test himself against older and stronger competition, DuPont was hesitant in a sign of that humility.

“I don’t know if I’m ready for the NHL,” he said, pausing for a reminder that NCAA players are also older and stronger, before adding: “Even in junior as well, the 19- and 20-year-olds are older, stronger, bigger. I think last year and this year, really learning to play.

“I’m not the biggest guy, so you’ve got to play through them and have good stick details. I really tried to work on my strength in the off-season last summer, so I think I came in to this year stronger. And going to have another big summer.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2026.

Larry Fisher, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Silvertips’ DuPont embraces pressure from Memorial Cup, recruiters

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