DuPont Scores Twice as Everett Reaches Memorial Cup Final
Landon DuPont scored twice and the Everett Silvertips rolled past the Chicoutimi Saguenéens 6-1 on Friday in the memorial cup final semifinal. Everett now gets Kitchener in Sunday’s final, with the WHL champion one win from its first Memorial Cup title since 2014.
DuPont Returns For Everett
DuPont’s first goal restored Everett’s first-period lead at 2-1, and his second came on a second-period power play to make it 5-1. The 17-year-old defenceman had sat out Wednesday with an undisclosed injury, then celebrated his birthday on Thursday before returning to the lineup Friday.
Steve Hamilton said, "We had a pretty good feeling" before the warm-up and added, "He was in a good space … and he said he was good to go, so trust him and turn him loose." The move paid off immediately, with DuPont finishing with two goals in a game Everett controlled after the opening stretch.
Everett Takes Control
Yanick Jean did not hide what he saw from the Everett blue line. "He’s a stud. To win in this tournament, you need studs. He’s playing up to that level." Jean also said, "He does it all on the ice. He can control the game. His skills are amazing, but he’s fit, he’s strong, he can defend. This guy will be a star for sure at the other level."
That output gave Everett the cushion it needed against a Chicoutimi team that had reached the semifinal as the QMJHL champion. DuPont’s second-period power-play goal stretched the margin to four, and the Silvertips kept adding to the lead instead of letting the game tighten.
Kitchener Awaits On Sunday
Hamilton pointed to the rematch with Kitchener after Everett’s round-robin game against the Rangers on Monday. "You got the opportunity you want and have been looking forward to, and these guys have earned — to get back here and play (Kitchener) again," he said.
DuPont, projected as the top prospect for the 2027 NHL draft, said, "A lot of excitement coming into the game" and later added, "I hate watching our team play. I hate being in the crowd. I just wanted to be out there, and to get one in the first almost felt like a relief." He finished with, "I was just super happy to be back and playing, and to get those two goals felt good."
The Silvertips now carry the WHL’s 2014 title drought into Sunday’s final, with a chance to end it against Kitchener. DuPont’s return changed the semifinal quickly; the same lineup decision now carries Everett into the game that decides whether the tournament ends with a championship or another near miss.
