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Four assists in the final. The captain's armband around his arm. A gold medal around his neck. And a phone heating up with messages from NHL recruiters. Landon DuPont, 17 years old, closed out his Hlinka-Gretzky Cup on Saturday night the way you finish a masterpiece: by overwhelming the United States 8-1 in Edmonton, under the watchful eyes of all thirty-two general managers in the league.
The right-handed defenseman for the Everett Silvertips in the Western Hockey League isn't even old enough to vote yet. But he already holds exceptional player status—the ninth in Canadian Hockey League history—and a signed commitment to the University of Michigan for next season. The words "future first overall pick in the 2027 draft" circulate in every scout's conversation.
The right-handed defenseman for the Everett Silvertips in the Western Hockey League isn't even old enough to vote yet.
A one-sided final
Canada took an entire period to find its range on Saturday, then unleashed a hurricane. DuPont, positioned as the quarterback on the power play, dished out the assists: a cross-ice pass for Brock England, an instant feed for Maddox Schultz, a laser opening for Liam Pue. The final score (8-1) only tells half the story of Canada's territorial dominance, as they converted three of their five power plays and silenced an American team that was the defending champion.
"I didn't have to do much more than push the puck; his pass was perfect," DuPont had soberly commented about Alexis Joseph, his Quebec teammate, after the win against Slovakia in the group stage. On Saturday, it was his teammates who returned the compliment.
Seven years in Switzerland, five in Germany
DuPont's journey stands out from the mold of pure Canadian hockey products. The son of Micki DuPont, a professional defenseman who played in Switzerland (Ambri-Piotta, Kloten) and Germany (Mannheim, Straubing), Landon spent his childhood on the other side of the Atlantic. Seven years in Switzerland, five in Germany: the Calgary kid learned to skate on the frozen lakes of the Grisons before dominating WHL rinks.
"I spent seven years in Switzerland, then five years in Germany," he recently told NHL.com. "I was able to learn to appreciate the elements needed to play professionally." A European education that shows in his game: puck reading, patience in transition, quality of first pass. At 17, he has the maturity of a 25-year-old defenseman.
Michigan, then the world
DuPont's 2024-2025 season with Everett is dizzying: 64 games, 17 goals, 43 assists, 60 points, and a +31 rating. These statistics, compiled at age 15 and 16 against opponents sometimes older, convinced Hockey Canada to give him the captain's armband for the Edmonton tournament. A choice that paid off.
Next fall, DuPont will head to Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan's Wolverines program, the usual breeding ground for top NHL picks. There, he'll face the world's best prospects in an American college championship that's as competitive as ever. The logical next step, if his development continues on this trajectory, will lead him to the 2027 draft podium. Until then, NHL general managers have one more reason not to put down their phones this summer: it's impossible to talk to a player who isn't eligible yet. But they're taking notes. They're noting everything.