1996–97 WHL season

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

Regular season

Final standings
East Division GP W L T Pts GF GA
x Brandon Wheat Kings724724195339208
x Swift Current Broncos724423593336243
x Regina Pats724227387326259
x Moose Jaw Warriors723629779278240
x Prince Albert Raiders722934967235262
Saskatoon Blades721848642227344
Central Division GP W L T Pts GF GA
x Lethbridge Hurricanes724722397342248
x Red Deer Rebels724326389317297
x Medicine Hat Tigers723932179270278
Calgary Hitmen721553434199360
Edmonton Ice721456230231395
West Division GP W L T Pts GF GA
x Portland Winter Hawks724621597300196
x Seattle Thunderbirds724127486311249
x Spokane Chiefs723533474260235
x Kelowna Rockets723535272298314
x Kamloops Blazers722837763256285
x Prince George Cougars722839561238287
Tri-City Americans722243751225288

Scoring leaders

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

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Todd RobinsonPortland Winter Hawks71389613453
Byron RitchieLethbridge Hurricanes63507612686
Patrick MarleauSeattle Thunderbirds71517412522
Peter SchaeferBrandon Wheat Kings61497412366
B.J. YoungRed Deer Rebels63585611472
Josh St. LouisSwift Current Broncos65575110820
Brett McLeanKelowna Rockets72446010489
Kelly SmartBrandon Wheat Kings693960998
Josh HoldenRegina Pats58494998111
Greg SchmidtRed Deer Rebels6645539897

Goaltending leaders

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 ElderBrandon Wheat Kings522930321501322.9062.70
Brent BeleckiPortland Winter Hawks2715681771711.9092.72
Chris WickenheiserRed Deer/Portland412428241431103.9132.72
David HaunBrandon Wheat Kings2714421591721.8983.00
Donavon NunweilerMoose Jaw Warriors563278272151666.9073.04

1997 WHL Playoffs
  • 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  

Eastern Conference
Lethbridge vs. Prince Albert
DateAwayHome
March 19Prince Albert 24 Lethbridge
March 21Prince Albert 12 Lethbridge
March 23Lethbridge 54 Prince Albert
March 24Lethbridge 54 Prince Albert
Lethbridge wins series 4–0
Swift Current vs. Medicine Hat
DateAwayHome
March 18Medicine Hat 18 Swift Current
March 20Swift Current 51 Medicine Hat
March 22Medicine Hat 15 Swift Current
March 23Swift Current 42 Medicine Hat
Swift Current wins series 4–0
Brandon vs. Moose Jaw
DateAwayHome
March 20Moose Jaw 42 Brandon
March 21Moose Jaw 43 Brandon
March 23Brandon 54 Moose Jaw
March 24Brandon 32 Moose Jaw
March 26Moose Jaw 32 BrandonOT
March 28Brandon 23 Moose JawOT
Moose Jaw wins series 4–2
Red Deer vs. Regina
DateAwayHome
March 20Regina 46 Red Deer
March 21Regina 45 Red DeerOT
March 23Red Deer 62 Regina
March 24Red Deer 15 Regina
March 26Regina 15 Red Deer
Red Deer wins series 4–1

Western Conference
Portland vs. Prince George
DateAwayHome
March 21Prince George 25 Portland
March 22Prince George 53 Portland
March 25Portland 04 Prince George
March 26Portland 24 Prince George
March 29Prince George 12 Portland
March 31Portland 23 Prince George
Prince George wins series 4–2
Spokane vs. Kelowna
DateAwayHome
March 21Spokane 53 Kelowna
March 22Spokane 53 Kelowna
March 26Kelowna 52 Spokane
March 28Kelowna 04 Spokane
March 29Kelowna 63 Spokane
March 31Spokane 52 Kelowna
Spokane wins series 4–2
Seattle vs. Kamloops
DateAwayHome
March 21Kamloops 25 Seattle
March 23Kamloops 37 Seattle
March 25Seattle 41 Kamloops
March 27Seattle 23 Kamloops
March 29Kamloops 45 Seattle
Seattle wins series 4–1

Conference semifinals
Eastern Conference
Lethbridge vs. Moose Jaw
DateAwayHome
March 31Moose Jaw 23 LethbridgeOT
April 1Moose Jaw 54 LethbridgeOT
April 3Lethbridge 53 Moose Jaw
April 4Lethbridge 45 Moose Jaw
April 6Moose Jaw 15 Lethbridge
April 8Lethbridge 54 Moose Jaw
Lethbridge wins series 4–2
Swift Current vs. Red Deer
DateAwayHome
March 31Red Deer 52 Swift Current
April 1Red Deer 53 Swift Current
April 3Swift Current 24 Red Deer
April 4Swift Current 32 Red DeerOT
April 6Red Deer 211 Swift Current
April 8Swift Current 26 Red Deer
Red Deer wins series 4–2
Western Conference
Spokane vs. Prince George
DateAwayHome
April 4Prince George 54 SpokaneOT
April 5Prince George 42 Spokane
April 7Spokane 12 Prince George
Prince George wins series 3–0
Seattle earns bye

Conference finals
Eastern ConferenceWestern Conference
Lethbridge vs. Red Deer
DateAwayHome
April 12Red Deer 23 LethbridgeOT
April 13Red Deer 74 Lethbridge
April 15Lethbridge 53 Red Deer
April 16Lethbridge 64 Red Deer
April 18Red Deer 25 Lethbridge
Lethbridge wins series 4–1
Seattle vs. Prince George
DateAwayHome
April 10Prince George 32 Seattle2OT
April 11Prince George 14 Seattle
April 14Seattle 52 Prince George
April 15Seattle 34 Prince George
April 18Prince George 14 Seattle
April 20Seattle 61 Prince George
Seattle wins series 4–2

WHL Championship
Lethbridge vs. Seattle
DateAwayHome
April 25Seattle 27 Lethbridge
April 26Seattle 14 Lethbridge
April 29Lethbridge 31 Seattle
April 30Lethbridge 51 Seattle
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
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
Preceded by
1995–96 WHL season		 WHL seasons Succeeded by
1997–98 WHL season
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