1996–97 WHL season
4515217
210960268
2008-05-08T03:46:15Z
24.84.181.198
/* Western Conference */
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 (WHL)|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 Rebels|Red Deer]]/[[Portland Winter Hawks|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 (WHL)|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]]
|-
|[[WHL Humanitarian of the Year Award|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==
*[[1997 Memorial Cup]]
*[[1997 NHL Entry Draft]]
*[[1996 in sports]]
*[[1997 in sports]]
==References==
*[http://www.whl.ca whl.ca]
* 2005–06 WHL Guide
{{start box}}
{{succession box |
before = [[1995–96 WHL season]] |
after = [[1997–98 WHL season]] |
title = [[List of WHL seasons|WHL seasons]] |
years = |
}}
{{end box}}
[[Category:Western Hockey League seasons]]
[[Category:1996 in ice hockey|WHL]]
[[Category:1997 in ice hockey|WHL]]