Landon DuPont, the defenseman who helped the Everett Silvertips win their first WHL championship, is headed to the University of Michigan.

DuPont, 17, officially committed to the Wolverines for the 2026-27 season on Wednesday, June 24, ending a two-year tenure at Angel of the Winds Arena that produced a CHL Rookie of the Year award, 73 points in 63 regular-season games this past season, and a plus-59 rating that anchored Everett's run to the WHL title and Memorial Cup final.

"The guys there made me feel like I was a part of the team," DuPont told The Herald about his Michigan visit. "I had that same feeling I had when I first got to Everett, so I felt confident in making that decision there."

DuPont chose Michigan over Denver, Michigan State, and Minnesota after visiting Ann Arbor and East Lansing in recent weeks, according to College Hockey News. He joins a Wolverines squad that went 31-8-1 in 2025-26 and reached the Frozen Four.

The move was made possible by the CHL's new NCAA eligibility rule, which took effect last season and has opened college hockey as a development path for top CHL prospects. DuPont is projected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 NHL Draft, according to The Herald and multiple scouting outlets.

Silvertips general manager Mike Fraser called DuPont "maybe the most driven player I've ever seen" and "probably one of the best players to ever play in Everett," according to The Herald.

The loss is compounded by captain Tarin Smith, DuPont's defensive partner for most of the season, who committed to the University of Minnesota. Fraser pointed to 18-year-old Brek Liske, Luke Vlooswyk, Jaxon Pisani, and newcomer Bode Laylin as the defensive corps that will carry Everett into next season. Liske posted 17 points in 18 playoff games after stepping in for an injured Smith during the postseason.

DuPont's final highlight reel in Everett included an overtime winner 29 seconds into OT against Kelowna on April 18 to send the Tips to the Western Conference Final, and a two-goal performance in the Memorial Cup semifinal on May 29 — one day after he turned 17.

He plans to celebrate his high school graduation on Thursday, June 25, return home to Calgary, then represent Team Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton from Aug. 3–8 before starting at Michigan.

Everett opens preseason play Aug. 30 against the Seattle Thunderbirds at Angel of the Winds Arena.