1996–97 WHL season

Junior ice hockey season

Sports season

1996–97 WHL season

League| Western Hockey League
Sport| Ice hockey
Number of teams| 18
Regular season
Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy| Lethbridge Hurricanes (1)
Season MVP| Peter Schaefer (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Top scorer| Todd Robinson (Portland Winter Hawks)
Playoffs
Playoffs MVP| Blaine Russell (Hurricanes)
Finals champions| Lethbridge Hurricanes (1)
Runners-up| Seattle Thunderbirds
WHL seasons

← 1995–96

1997–98 →

Sports season

1996–97 CHL season

League| Canadian Hockey League
Sport| Ice hockey
Number of teams| 49
OHL
QMJHL
WHL
Memorial Cup
Finals champions| Hull Olympiques (QMJHL) (1st title)
Runners-up| Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)

The 1996–97 WHL season was the 31st season of the Western Hockey League (WHL), featuring eighteen teams and a 72-game regular season. The Lethbridge Hurricanes won both the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as regular season champions and the President's Cup as playoff champions, both for the first time in team history. The Hurricanes went on to finish as runners-up at the 1997 Memorial Cup tournament.

The Edmonton Ice joined the WHL as its eighteenth team, and the first to call Edmonton home since the second iteration of the Oil Kings left the city in 1979.

## League notes

[edit]

* The addition of the Edmonton Ice to the Central Division precipitated a realignment for the Swift Current Broncos, who moved to the East Division.

## Teams

[edit]

1996–97 Western Hockey League

Division | Team | City | Arena | Capacity
East  | Brandon Wheat Kings | Brandon, Manitoba | Keystone Centre | 5,102
Moose Jaw Warriors | Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan | Moose Jaw Civic Centre | 3,146
Prince Albert Raiders | Prince Albert, Saskatchewan | Prince Albert Communiplex | 2,580
Regina Pats | Regina, Saskatchewan | Regina Agridome | 6,000
Saskatoon Blades | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | Saskatchewan Place | 12,911
Swift Current Broncos | Swift Current, Saskatchewan | Centennial Civic Centre | 2,879
Central  | Calgary Hitmen | Calgary, Alberta | Canadian Airlines Saddledome | 19,289
Edmonton Ice | Edmonton, Alberta | Northlands Agricom | 3,500
Lethbridge Hurricanes | Lethbridge, Alberta | Lethbridge Sportsplex | 5,479
Medicine Hat Tigers | Medicine Hat, Alberta | Medicine Hat Arena | 4,006
Red Deer Rebels | Red Deer, Alberta | Red Deer Centrium | 7,111
West  | Kamloops Blazers | Kamloops, British Columbia | Riverside Coliseum | 5,464
Kelowna Rockets | Kelowna, British Columbia | Kelowna Memorial Arena | 2,600
Portland Winter Hawks | Portland, Oregon | Veterans Memorial Coliseum | 12,000
Prince George Cougars | Prince George, British Columbia | Prince George Multiplex | 5,971
Seattle Thunderbirds | Seattle, Washington | Seattle Center Coliseum | 15,177
Spokane Chiefs | Spokane, Washington | Spokane Coliseum | 5,400
Tri-City Americans | Kennewick, Washington | Tri-Cities Coliseum | 5,694

### Map of teams

[edit]

Wheat Kings

Warriors

Raiders

Pats

Blades

Broncos

Hitmen

Ice

Hurricanes

Tigers

Rebels

Blazers

Rockets

Winter Hawks

Cougars

Thunder
birds

Chiefs

Americans

East Division  Central Division  West Division

## Regular season

[edit]

### Final standings

[edit]

East Division  | GP  | W  | L  | T  | Pts  | GF  | 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
Central Division  | GP  | W  | L  | T  | Pts  | GF  | 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
West Division  | GP  | W  | L  | T  | Pts  | GF  | 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

[edit]

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

Player  | Team  | GP  | G  | A  | Pts  | 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

[edit]

Note: GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties ; GA = Goals against; SO = Total shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

Player  | Team  | GP  | Min  | W  | L  | T  | GA  | SO  | SV%  | 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

## 1997 WHL Playoffs

[edit]

* 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

| First Round | | | Division Semi-Finals | | | Division Finals | | | WHL Championship |

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

|  |  |  | | |  |  |  | | |  |  |  | | |  |  |  |
| C1 | Lethbridge | 4 | | | |
| E5 | Prince Albert | 0 |
| | C1 | Lethbridge | 4 |
|  |
| | | E4 | Moose Jaw | 2 |
| E1 | Brandon | 2 |

| E4 | Moose Jaw | 4 |
| | C1 | Lethbridge | 4 |
|  |
| | | C2 | Red Deer | 1 |
| E2 | Swift Current | 4 | |

| C3 | Medicine Hat | 0 |
| | E2 | Swift Current | 2 |
|  |
| | | C2 | Red Deer | 4 |
| C2 | Red Deer | 4 |

| E3 | Regina | 1 |
| | C1 | Lethbridge | 4 |
|  |
| | | W2 | Seattle | 0 |
| W2 | Seattle | 4 | | |

| W5 | Kamloops | 1 |
| | W2 | Seattle | bye |
|  |
| | |  |  |  |
| |

| |
| | W2 | Seattle | 4 |
|  |
| | | W6 | Prince George | 2 |
| W1 | Portland | 2 | |

| W6 | Prince George | 4 |
| | W3 | Spokane | 0 |
|  |
| | | W6 | Prince George | 3 |
| W3 | Spokane | 4 |

| W4 | Kelowna | 2 |

### Conference Quarterfinals

[edit]

#### Eastern Conference

[edit]

| Lethbridge vs. Prince Albert

Date | Away | Home
March 19 | Prince Albert 2 | 4 Lethbridge
March 21 | Prince Albert 1 | 2 Lethbridge
March 23 | Lethbridge 5 | 4 Prince Albert
March 24 | Lethbridge 5 | 4 Prince Albert
Lethbridge wins series 4–0
| Swift Current vs. Medicine Hat

Date | Away | Home
March 18 | Medicine Hat 1 | 8 Swift Current
March 20 | Swift Current 5 | 1 Medicine Hat
March 22 | Medicine Hat 1 | 5 Swift Current
March 23 | Swift Current 4 | 2 Medicine Hat
Swift Current wins series 4–0
| Brandon vs. Moose Jaw

Date | Away | Home
March 20 | Moose Jaw 4 | 2 Brandon
March 21 | Moose Jaw 4 | 3 Brandon
March 23 | Brandon 5 | 4 Moose Jaw
March 24 | Brandon 3 | 2 Moose Jaw
March 26 | Moose Jaw 3 | 2 Brandon | OT
March 28 | Brandon 2 | 3 Moose Jaw | OT
Moose Jaw wins series 4–2
| Red Deer vs. Regina

Date | Away | Home
March 20 | Regina 4 | 6 Red Deer
March 21 | Regina 4 | 5 Red Deer | OT
March 23 | Red Deer 6 | 2 Regina
March 24 | Red Deer 1 | 5 Regina
March 26 | Regina 1 | 5 Red Deer
Red Deer wins series 4–1

#### Western Conference

[edit]

| Portland vs. Prince George

Date | Away | Home
March 21 | Prince George 2 | 5 Portland
March 22 | Prince George 5 | 3 Portland
March 25 | Portland 0 | 4 Prince George
March 26 | Portland 2 | 4 Prince George
March 29 | Prince George 1 | 2 Portland
March 31 | Portland 2 | 3 Prince George
Prince George wins series 4–2
| Spokane vs. Kelowna

Date | Away | Home
March 21 | Spokane 5 | 3 Kelowna
March 22 | Spokane 5 | 3 Kelowna
March 26 | Kelowna 5 | 2 Spokane
March 28 | Kelowna 0 | 4 Spokane
March 29 | Kelowna 6 | 3 Spokane
March 31 | Spokane 5 | 2 Kelowna
Spokane wins series 4–2
| Seattle vs. Kamloops

Date | Away | Home
March 21 | Kamloops 2 | 5 Seattle
March 23 | Kamloops 3 | 7 Seattle
March 25 | Seattle 4 | 1 Kamloops
March 27 | Seattle 2 | 3 Kamloops
March 29 | Kamloops 4 | 5 Seattle
Seattle wins series 4–1

### Conference semifinals

[edit]

Eastern Conference

| Lethbridge vs. Moose Jaw

Date | Away | Home
March 31 | Moose Jaw 2 | 3 Lethbridge | OT
April 1 | Moose Jaw 5 | 4 Lethbridge | OT
April 3 | Lethbridge 5 | 3 Moose Jaw
April 4 | Lethbridge 4 | 5 Moose Jaw
April 6 | Moose Jaw 1 | 5 Lethbridge
April 8 | Lethbridge 5 | 4 Moose Jaw
Lethbridge wins series 4–2
| Swift Current vs. Red Deer

Date | Away | Home
March 31 | Red Deer 5 | 2 Swift Current
April 1 | Red Deer 5 | 3 Swift Current
April 3 | Swift Current 2 | 4 Red Deer
April 4 | Swift Current 3 | 2 Red Deer | OT
April 6 | Red Deer 2 | 11 Swift Current
April 8 | Swift Current 2 | 6 Red Deer
Red Deer wins series 4–2
Western Conference

| Spokane vs. Prince George

Date | Away | Home
April 4 | Prince George 5 | 4 Spokane | OT
April 5 | Prince George 4 | 2 Spokane
April 7 | Spokane 1 | 2 Prince George
Prince George wins series 3–0
| Seattle earns bye

### Conference finals

[edit]

Eastern Conference | Western Conference

|

| Lethbridge vs. Red Deer

Date | Away | Home
April 12 | Red Deer 2 | 3 Lethbridge | OT
April 13 | Red Deer 7 | 4 Lethbridge
April 15 | Lethbridge 5 | 3 Red Deer
April 16 | Lethbridge 6 | 4 Red Deer
April 18 | Red Deer 2 | 5 Lethbridge
Lethbridge wins series 4–1
| Seattle vs. Prince George

Date | Away | Home
April 10 | Prince George 3 | 2 Seattle | 2OT
April 11 | Prince George 1 | 4 Seattle
April 14 | Seattle 5 | 2 Prince George
April 15 | Seattle 3 | 4 Prince George
April 18 | Prince George 1 | 4 Seattle
April 20 | Seattle 6 | 1 Prince George
Seattle wins series 4–2

### WHL Championship

[edit]

Lethbridge vs. Seattle

Date | Away | Home
April 25 | Seattle 2 | 7 Lethbridge
April 26 | Seattle 1 | 4 Lethbridge
April 29 | Lethbridge 3 | 1 Seattle
April 30 | Lethbridge 5 | 1 Seattle
Lethbridge wins series 4–0

## All-Star game

[edit]

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

[edit]

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
WHL Humanitarian of the Year: Jesse Wallin, Red Deer Rebels
WHL Plus-Minus Award: Peter Schaefer, Brandon Wheat Kings
WHL Playoff Most Valuable Player: Blaine Russell, Lethbridge Hurricanes

## All-Star Teams

[edit]

Eastern Conference

| First Team | Second Team
Goal | Donovan Nunweiler | Moose Jaw Warriors | Brian Elder | Brandon Wheat Kings
Defense | Chris Phillips | Lethbridge Hurricanes | Justin Kurtz | Brandon Wheat Kings
Derek Morris | Regina Pats | David Van Drunen | Prince Albert Raiders
Forward | Peter Schaefer | Brandon Wheat Kings | Brad Larsen | Swift Current Broncos
Shane Willis | Lethbridge Hurricanes | Dmitri Nabokov | Regina Pats
B.J. Young | Red Deer Rebels | Byron Ritchie | Lethbridge Hurricanes
Western Conference
| First Team | Second Team
Goal | Brian Boucher | Tri-City Americans | Chris Wickenheiser | Portland Winter Hawks
Defense | Randy Perry | Seattle Thunderbirds | Hugh Hamilton | Spokane Chiefs
Zenith Komarniski | Tri-City Americans | Joel Kwiatkowski | Prince George Cougars
Forward | Patrick Marleau | Seattle Thunderbirds | Brad Isbister | Portland Winter Hawks
Todd Robinson | Portland Winter Hawks | Donnie Kinney | Kamloops Blazers
Trent Whitfield | Spokane Chiefs | Brett McLean | Kelowna Rockets

## See also

[edit]

* 1997 NHL Entry Draft
* 1996 in sports
* 1997 in sports

## References

[edit]

* 2005–06 WHL Guide

Preceded by

1995–96 WHL season

|  WHL seasons | Succeeded by

1997–98 WHL season

|
|

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