Landon DuPont and the Everett Silvertips won their first WHL championship with a 7-2 road victory over the Prince Albert Raiders, earning a trip to the Memorial Cup in Kelowna. DuPont’s playoff production and a hat trick in Game 5 helped seal the series, while
Landon DuPont and the Everett Silvertips are crossing a line few franchise teams ever reach: their first WHL title.
The Silvertips clinched the championship with a 7-2 road win over the Prince Albert Raiders in Game 5 of the league final on Friday, sending the team just north of Seattle to the Memorial Cup, May 22-31 in Kelowna, B.C.
DuPont, who was granted exceptional status and entered the league a year early last season, finished second among all WHL defencemen in the playoffs with 23 points in 18 games (five goals, 18 assists). His role in the finale was immediate as well—he scored the team’s final goal on Friday.
With the 2027 NHL Draft on the horizon. DuPont is in the running to be picked first overall. while his path has also added a rare historical thread to Everett’s run.. Of the nine players ever granted exceptional status in CHL history. DuPont is set to be the third to reach the Memorial Cup—following Sean Day. who went in 2016-17 with the Windsor Spitfires. and Michael Misa. who reached it with the 2023-24 Saginaw Spirit.. Those two players won the title with the host teams.
Everett’s playoff scoring also came from multiple places. Seattle Kraken second-round pick Julius Miettinen led the WHL in playoff scoring, with Matias Vanhanen—undrafted in the NHL—finishing third, and Carter Bear, a Detroit Red Wings first-round pick, coming in fourth.
Game 5 delivered the kind of offensive burst that tends to define championship moments. Florida Panthers prospect Shea Busch led the Silvertips with a hat trick, and Everett made its statement by winning three straight games in Prince Albert, Sask., to close out the series.
The momentum didn’t appear out of nowhere. The Silvertips posted a 57-8-2-1 regular season record and followed it with a 16-2 playoff run.
At the Memorial Cup, Everett will join host Kelowna Rockets and OHL champion Kitchener Rangers. The last spot will be determined by the QMJHL final.
That series turned on a stunning comeback: the Chicoutimi Sagueneens took a 3-2 lead after rallying from a 4-0 deficit to beat the host Moncton Wildcats on Friday. Game 6 is set for Sunday in Chicoutimi, Que.
Everett Silvertips Landon DuPont Prince Albert Raiders WHL final Memorial Cup Kelowna Rockets Kitchener Rangers CHL exceptional status Julius Miettinen Shea Busch QMJHL final Chicoutimi Sagueneens Moncton Wildcats
7-2 is wild. Hockey playoffs are basically just who scores first lol.
So DuPont got exceptional status and went a year early?? That sounds kinda like a cheat code. Also Memorial Cup is in May right? hope they don’t choke.
Wait the article says he might be picked first overall in 2027 NHL Draft… but also “with the 2027 NHL Draft on the horizon” like that’s guaranteed? I mean Everett just won so obviously NHL teams will copy them or something. NHL players always get better when their team wins right?
I don’t even get how the Memorial Cup spots work. QMJHL final decides the last one but then it was a comeback from down 4-0?? Hockey fans are always talking like it’s March Madness on ice. Congrats though, 16-2 playoff run is insane.