WHL’s Landon DuPont becomes first rookie defenseman to reach 50 points since Scott Niedermayer

It was a history-making weekend in the Western Hockey League.

Facing the Kamloops Blazers on Sunday, Everett Silvertips rookie rearguard Landon DuPont notched a secondary assist on his side’s second goal of the contest. The feat marked the 50th point of the season for the 15-year-old blue-liner, who with the accomplishment became the WHL’s first freshman defenseman to reach the 50-point plateau since Scott Niedermayer did so with the Blazers during the 1989-90 campaign.

Last April, DuPont became just the second-ever player to be granted exceptional status by the WHL, permitting him to join the league one year prior to his draft year. The ensuing weeks saw DuPont selected atop the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft by the Silvertips. With it, DuPont became the first WHL player to receive early admission since Regina Pats graduate and Chicago Blackhawks superstar Connor Bedard.

Through 47 games with the Silvertips this season, DuPont has scored north of a point per game as he has collected 12 goals and 38 assists to sit fifth in team scoring and first among defensemen. Across the WHL, DuPont has outpaced all rookies and is fourth among his fellow rearguards in points. Twice this season, DuPont has been recognized as the WHL’s Rookie of the Month. The Calgary native is eligible for the 2027 NHL Draft.

For Niedermayer, who spent three campaigns with the Blazers from 1989-92, his time in the junior circuit saw him tally 47 goals and 143 assists for 190 points through 156 total appearances. In 1992, Niedermayer helped the Blazers capture the Memorial Cup, marking Canadian Hockey League supremacy. That spring also saw Niedermayer presented with the Stafford Smythe Trophy as the Memorial Cup MVP after he posted seven points counting two goals and five assists in five games en route to the championship.

On the season, the Silvertips sit atop the WHL standings with a 36-8-4-3 record and 79 points.