1995–96 WHL season

The 1995–96 WHL season was the 30th season for the Western Hockey League (WHL). Seventeen teams completed a 72-game season. The Brandon Wheat Kings won the President's Cup.

League notes

The Calgary Hitmen joined the WHL as its 17th franchise, playing in the Central division.
The Tacoma Rockets relocated to Kelowna, British Columbia to become the Kelowna Rockets.
The WHL divided into three divisions: The East and Central divisions formed the Eastern Conference, and consisted of five teams per division. The West division was made up of the seven B.C. and U.S.-based teams.
The playoff format was changed so that the top eight teams in the Eastern Conference and the top six in the West division qualified. The 14 playoff qualifiers all played best-of-seven series in the first round. The East semifinals were best-of-seven affairs, while the highest remaining seed in the West earned a bye. The remaining two West teams played a best of five series. Conference and League final series were best of seven.

Regular season

Final standings

East Division	GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA
x Brandon Wheat Kings	72	52	19	1	105	369	231
x Prince Albert Raiders	72	47	19	6	100	309	250
x Regina Pats	72	37	33	2	76	316	284
x Saskatoon Blades	72	29	42	1	59	314	351
Moose Jaw Warriors	72	18	49	5	41	223	331

Central Division	GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA
x Swift Current Broncos	72	36	31	5	77	285	271
x Lethbridge Hurricanes	72	33	36	3	69	259	270
x Medicine Hat Tigers	72	30	37	5	65	243	288
x Red Deer Rebels	72	28	39	5	61	263	300
Calgary Hitmen	72	18	51	3	39	222	359

West Division	GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA
x Spokane Chiefs	72	50	18	4	104	322	221
x Kamloops Blazers	72	48	22	2	98	343	257
x Tri-City Americans	72	45	25	2	92	336	255
x Kelowna Rockets	72	35	33	4	74	338	309
x Seattle Thunderbirds	72	29	36	7	65	255	281
x Portland Winter Hawks	72	30	39	3	63	283	301
Prince George Cougars	72	17	53	2	36	219	340

Scoring leaders

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

Player	Team	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Mark Deyell	Saskatoon Blades	69	61	98	159	122
Frank Banham	Saskatoon Blades	72	83	69	152	116
Hnat Domenichelli	Kamloops Blazers	62	59	89	148	37
Jarome Iginla	Kamloops Blazers	63	63	73	136	120
Robb Gordon	Kelowna Rockets	58	51	63	114	84
Josh Holden	Regina Pats	70	57	55	112	105
Mike Leclerc	Brandon Wheat Kings	71	58	53	111	161
Clarke Wilm	Saskatoon Blades	72	49	61	110	83
Peter Shaefer	Brandon Wheat Kings	69	47	61	108	53
Marty Flichel	Kelowna Rockets	69	28	79	107	107

1996 WHL Playoffs

Conference quarter-finals

Brandon defeated Saskatoon 4 games to 0
Regina defeated Lethbridge 4 games to 0
Prince Albert defeated Medicine Hat 4 games to 1
Red Deer defeated Swift Current 4 games to 2
Spokane defeated Portland 4 games to 3
Kamloops defeated Seattle 4 games to 1
Tri-City defeated Kelowna 4 games to 2

Conference semi-finals

Brandon defeated Red Deer 4 games to 0
Prince Albert defeated Regina 4 games to 3
Spokane earns bye
Kamloops defeated Tri-City 3 games to 2

Conference finals

Brandon defeated Prince Albert 4 games to 2
Spokane defeated Kamloops 4 games to 2

Championship

Brandon defeated Spokane 4 games to 1

All-Star game

On January 23, the Eastern Conference defeated the Western Conference 10–7 at Prince George, British Columbia before a crowd of 5,992.

Awards

Player of the Year - Four Broncos Memorial Trophy: Jarome Iginla, Kamloops Blazers

Scholastic Player of the Year - Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy: Bryce Salvador, Lethbridge Hurricanes

Top Scorer - Bob Clarke Trophy: Mark Deyell, Saskatoon Blades

Most Sportsmanlike Player - Brad Hornung Trophy: Hnat Domenichelli, Kamloops Blazers

Top Defenseman - Bill Hunter Trophy: Nolan Baumgartner, Kamloops Blazers

Rookie of the Year - Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy: Chris Phillips, Prince Albert Raiders

Top Goaltender - Del Wilson Trophy: David Lemamowicz, Spokane Chiefs

Coach of the Year - Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy: Bob Lowes, Brandon Wheat Kings

Executive of the Year - Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy: Tim Speltz, Spokane Chiefs

Regular season Champions - Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy: Brandon Wheat Kings

Top Official - Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy: Lonnie Cameron

Marketing/Public Relations Award - St. Clair Group Trophy: Dave Pier, Spokane Chiefs

Humanitarian of the Year - Darryl Laplante, Moose Jaw Warriors

WHL Plus-Minus Award: Hugh Hamilton, Spokane Chiefs

Playoff Most Valuable Player - airBC Trophy: Bobby Brown, Brandon Wheat Kings

References

whl.ca
2005–06 WHL Guide

Preceded by 1994–95 WHL season	WHL seasons	Succeeded by 1996–97 WHL season

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