1996–97 WHL season

history

The 1996–97 WHL season was the 31st season for the Western Hockey League. Eighteen teams completed a 72 game season. The Lethbridge Hurricanes won the President's Cup.

League notes

  • The Edmonton Ice joined the WHL as it's 18th franchise, playing out of the Central division.
  • The Swift Current Broncos moved to the East division.

Regular season

Final standings

{| class="wikitable" |- ! width="45%" | East Division ! width="5%" | GP ! width="5%" | W ! width="5%" | L ! width="5%" | T ! width="7.5%" | Pts ! width="7.5%" | GF ! width="7.5%" | GA |- | x Brandon Wheat Kings||72 ||47 ||24 ||1 ||95 ||339 ||208 |- | x Swift Current Broncos ||72 ||44 ||23 ||5 ||93 ||336 ||243 |- | x Regina Pats ||72 ||42 ||27 ||3 ||87 ||326 ||259 |- | x Moose Jaw Warriors ||72 ||36 ||29 ||7 ||79 ||278 ||240 |- | x Prince Albert Raiders ||72 ||29 ||34 ||9 ||67 ||235 ||262 |- | Saskatoon Blades ||72 ||18 ||48 ||6 ||42 ||227 ||344 |- |}

{| class="wikitable" |- ! width="45%" | Central Division ! width="5%" | GP ! width="5%" | W ! width="5%" | L ! width="5%" | T ! width="7.5%" | Pts ! width="7.5%" | GF ! width="7.5%" | GA |- | x Lethbridge Hurricanes||72 ||47 ||22 ||3 ||97 ||342 ||248 |- | x Red Deer Rebels||72 ||43 ||26 ||3 ||89 ||317 ||297 |- | x Medicine Hat Tigers ||72 ||39 ||32 ||1 ||79 ||270 ||278 |- | Calgary Hitmen||72 ||15 ||53 ||4 ||34 ||199 ||360 |- | Edmonton Ice||72 ||14 ||56 ||2 ||30 ||231 ||395 |- |}

{| class="wikitable" |- ! width="45%" | West Division ! width="5%" | GP ! width="5%" | W ! width="5%" | L ! width="5%" | T ! width="7.5%" | Pts ! width="7.5%" | GF ! width="7.5%" | GA |- | x Portland Winter Hawks ||72 ||46 ||21 ||5 ||97 ||300 ||196 |- | x Seattle Thunderbirds ||72 ||41 ||27 ||4 ||86 ||311 ||249 |- | x Spokane Chiefs ||72 ||35 ||33 ||4 ||74 ||260 ||235 |- | x Kelowna Rockets ||72 ||35 ||35 ||2 ||72 ||298 ||314 |- | x Kamloops Blazers ||72 ||28 ||37 ||7 ||63 ||256 ||285 |- | x Prince George Cougars ||72 ||28 ||39 ||5 ||61 ||238 ||287 |- | Tri-City Americans ||72 ||22 ||43 ||7 ||51 ||225 ||288 |- |}

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes

{| class="wikitable" |- ! width="30%" | Player ! width="30%" | Team ! width="7.5%" | GP ! width="7.5%" | G ! width="7.5%" | A ! width="7.5%" | Pts ! width="7.5%" | PIM |- | Todd Robinson || Portland Winter Hawks || 71 || 38 || 96 || 134 || 53 |- | Byron Ritchie || Lethbridge Hurricanes || 63 || 50 || 76 || 126 || 86 |- | Patrick Marleau || Seattle Thunderbirds || 71 || 51 || 74 || 125 || 22 |- | Peter Schaefer || Brandon Wheat Kings || 61 || 49 || 74 || 123 || 66 |- | B.J. Young || Red Deer Rebels || 63 || 58 || 56 || 114 || 72 |- | Josh St. Louis || Swift Current Broncos || 65 || 57 || 51 || 108 || 20 |- | Brett McLean || Kelowna Rockets || 72 || 44 || 60 || 104 || 89 |- | Kelly Smart || Brandon Wheat Kings || 69 || 39 || 60 || 99 || 8 |- | Josh Holden || Regina Pats || 58 || 49 || 49 || 98 || 111 |- | Greg Schmidt || Red Deer Rebels || 66 || 45 || 53 || 98 || 97 |- |}

Goaltending leaders

Note: GP = Games Played; TOI = Total ice time; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties ; GA = Goals against; SO = Total shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average {| border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable" |- ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="27.5%" | Player ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="27.5%" | Team ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | GP ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | TOI ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | W ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | L ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | T ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | GA ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | SO ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | SV% ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | GAA |- |Brian Elder||Brandon Wheat Kings||52 ||2930 ||32 ||15 ||0 ||132 ||2 ||.906 ||2.70 |- |Brent Belecki||Portland Winter Hawks||27 ||1568 ||17 ||7 ||1 ||71 ||1 ||.909 ||2.72 |- |Chris Wickenheiser||Red Deer/Portland||41 ||2428 ||24 ||14 ||3 ||110 ||3 ||.913 ||2.72 |- |David Haun||Brandon Wheat Kings||27 ||1442 ||15 ||9 ||1 ||72 ||1 ||.898 ||3.00 |- |Donavon Nunweiler||Moose Jaw Warriors||56 ||3278 ||27 ||21 ||5 ||166 ||6 ||.907 ||3.04 |- |}

WHL Playoffs

Conference Quarterfinals

  • Top eight teams in the Eastern Conference (East and Central divisions) qualified for playoffs
  • Top six teams in the Western Conference (division) qualified for the playoffs

Eastern Conference

{| cellspacing="10" | valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Lethbridge vs. Prince Albert |- ! Date !! Away !! Home |- | March 19 || align="right" | Prince Albert 2 || 4 Lethbridge |- | March 21 || align="right" | Prince Albert 1 || 2 Lethbridge |- | March 23 || align="right" | Lethbridge 5 || 4 Prince Albert |- | March 24 || align="right" | Lethbridge 5 || 4 Prince Albert |- align="center" | colspan="4" | Lethbridge wins series 4–0 |} | valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Swift Current vs. Medicine Hat |- ! Date !! Away !! Home |- | March 18 || align="right" | Medicine Hat 1 || 8 Swift Current |- | March 20 || align="right" | Swift Current 5 || 1 Medicine Hat |- | March 22 || align="right" | Medicine Hat 1 || 5 Swift Current |- | March 23 || align="right" | Swift Current 4 || 2 Medicine Hat |- |- align="center" | colspan="4" | Swift Current wins series 4–0 |} |- | valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Brandon vs. Moose Jaw |- ! Date !! Away !! Home |- | March 20 || align="right" | Moose Jaw 4 || 2 Brandon |- | March 21 || align="right" | Moose Jaw 4 || 3 Brandon |- | March 23 || align="right" | Brandon 5 || 4 Moose Jaw |- | March 24 || align="right" | Brandon 3 || 2 Moose Jaw |- | March 26 || align="right" | Moose Jaw 3 || 2 Brandon || OT |- | March 28 || align="right" | Brandon 2 || 3 Moose Jaw || OT |- align="center" | colspan="4" | Moose Jaw wins series 4–2 |} | valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Red Deer vs. Regina |- ! Date !! Away !! Home |- | March 20 || align="right" | Regina 4 || 6 Red Deer |- | March 21 || align="right" | Regina 4 || 5 Red Deer || OT |- | March 23 || align="right" | Red Deer 6 || 2 Regina |- | March 24 || align="right" | Red Deer 1 || 5 Regina |- | March 26 || align="right" | Regina 1 || 5 Red Deer |- align="center" | colspan="4" | Red Deer wins series 4–1 |} |}

Western Conference

{| cellspacing="10" | valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Portland vs. Prince George |- ! Date !! Away !! Home |- | March 21 || align="right" | Prince George 2 || 5 Portland |- | March 22 || align="right" | Prince George 5 || 3 Portland |- | March 25 || align="right" | Portland 0 || 4 Prince George |- | March 26 || align="right" | Portland 2 || 4 Prince George |- | March 29 || align="right" | Prince George 1 || 2 Portland |- | March 31 || align="right" | Portland 2 || 3 Prince George |- align="center" | colspan="4" | Prince George wins series 4–2 |} | valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Spokane vs. Kelowna |- ! Date !! Away !! Home |- | March 21 || align="right" | Spokane 5 || 3 Kelowna |- | March 22 || align="right" | Spokane 5 || 3 Kelowna |- | March 26 || align="right" | Kelowna 5 || 2 Spokane |- | March 28 || align="right" | Kelowna 0 || 4 Spokane |- | March 29 || align="right" | Kelowna 6 || 3 Spokane |- | March 31 || align="right" | Spokane 5 || 2 Kelowna |- align="center" | colspan="4" | Spokane wins series 4–2 |} |- | valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Seattle vs. Kamloops |- ! Date !! Away !! Home |- | March 21 || align="right" | Kamloops 2 || 5 Seattle |- | March 23 || align="right" | Kamloops 3 || 7 Seattle |- | March 25 || align="right" | Seattle 4 || 1 Kamloops |- | March 27 || align="right" | Seattle 2 || 3 Kamloops |- | March 29 || align="right" | Kamloops 4 || 5 Seattle |- align="center" | colspan="4" | Seattle wins series 4–1 |} |}

Conference semifinals

{| cellspacing="10" ! colspan="2" | Eastern Conference |- | valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Lethbridge vs. Moose Jaw |- ! Date !! Away !! Home |- | March 31 || align="right" | Moose Jaw 2 || 3 Lethbridge || OT |- | April 1 || align="right" | Moose Jaw 5 || 4 Lethbridge || OT |- | April 3 || align="right" | Lethbridge 5 || 3 Moose Jaw |- | April 4 || align="right" | Lethbridge 4 || 5 Moose Jaw |- | April 6 || align="right" | Moose Jaw 1 || 5 Lethbridge |- | April 8 || align="right" | Lethbridge 5 || 4 Moose Jaw |- align="center" | colspan="4" | Lethbridge wins series 4–2 |} | valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Swift Current vs. Red Deer |- ! Date !! Away !! Home |- | March 31 || align="right" | Red Deer 5 || 2 Swift Current |- | April 1 || align="right" | Red Deer 5 || 3 Swift Current |- | April 3 || align="right" | Swift Current 2 || 4 Red Deer |- | April 4 || align="right" | Swift Current 3 || 2 Red Deer || OT |- | April 6 || align="right" | Red Deer 2 || 11 Swift Current |- | April 8 || align="right" | Swift Current 2 || 6 Red Deer |- align="center" | colspan="4" | Red Deer wins series 4–2 |} |}

{| cellspacing="10" ! colspan="2" | Western Conference |- | valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Spokane vs. Prince George |- ! Date !! Away !! Home |- | April 4 || align="right" | Prince George 5 || 4 Spokane || OT |- | April 5 || align="right" | Prince George 4 || 2 Spokane |- | April 7 || align="right" | Spokane 1 || 2 Prince George |- align="center" | colspan="4" | Prince George wins series 3–0 |} | valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Seattle earns bye |} |}

Conference finals

{| cellspacing="10" ! Eastern Conference !! Western Conference |- | valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Lethbridge vs. Red Deer |- ! Date !! Away !! Home |- | April 12 || align="right" | Red Deer 2 || 3 Lethbridge || OT |- | April 13 || align="right" | Red Deer 7 || 4 Lethbridge |- | April 15 || align="right" | Lethbridge 5 || 3 Red Deer |- | April 16 || align="right" | Lethbridge 6 || 4 Red Deer |- | April 18 || align="right" | Red Deer 2 || 5 Lethbridge |- align="center" | colspan="4" | Lethbridge wins series 4–1 |} | valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Seattle vs. Prince George |- ! Date !! Away !! Home |- | April 10 || align="right" | Prince George 3 || 2 Seattle || 2OT |- | April 11 || align="right" | Prince George 1 || 4 Seattle |- | April 14 || align="right" | Seattle 5 || 2 Prince George |- | April 15 || align="right" | Seattle 3 || 4 Prince George |- | April 18 || align="right" | Prince George 1 || 4 Seattle |- | April 20 || align="right" | Seattle 6 || 1 Prince George |- align="center" | colspan="4" | Seattle wins series 4–2 |} |}

WHL Championship

{| cellspacing="10" |- | valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Lethbridge vs. Seattle |- ! Date !! Away !! Home |- | April 25 || align="right" | Seattle 2 || 7 Lethbridge |- | April 26 || align="right" | Seattle 1 || 4 Lethbridge |- | April 29 || align="right" | Lethbridge 3 || 1 Seattle |- | April 30 || align="right" | Lethbridge 5 || 1 Seattle |- align="center" | colspan="4" | Lethbridge wins series 4–0 |}

All-Star game

On January 22, the Western Conference defeated the Eastern Conference 7–5 at Spokane, Washington before a WHL record crowd of 10,455.

WHL awards

{| cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" |Player of the Year - Four Broncos Memorial Trophy: Peter Schaefer, Brandon Wheat Kings |- |Scholastic Player of the Year - Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy: Stefan Cherneski, Brandon Wheat Kings |- |Top Scorer - Bob Clarke Trophy: Todd Robinson, Portland Winter Hawks |- |Most Sportsmanlike Player - Brad Hornung Trophy: Kelly Smart, Brandon Wheat Kings |- |Top Defenseman - Bill Hunter Trophy: Chris Phillips, Lethbridge Hurricanes |- |Rookie of the Year - Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy: Donavon Nunweiler, Moose Jaw Warriors |- |Top Goaltender - Del Wilson Trophy: Brian Boucher, Tri-City Americans |- |Coach of the Year - Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy: Brent Peterson, Portland Winter Hawks |- |Executive of the Year - Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy: Todd McLellan, Swift Current Broncos |- |Regular season Champions - Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy: Lethbridge Hurricanes |- |Top Official - Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy: Tom Kowal |- |Marketing/Public Relations Award - St. Clair Group Trophy: Pat Garrity, Red Deer Rebels |- |Humanitarian of the Year - Jesse Wallin, Red Deer Rebels |- |WHL Plus-Minus Award: Peter Schaefer, Brandon Wheat Kings |- |Playoff Most Valuable Player - airBC Trophy: Blaine Russell, Lethbridge Hurricanes |}

See also

References

home | This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. See full license termsIt uses material from the Wikipedia article "1996%E2%80%9397_WHL_season ". | compliance | March 18th 2010