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
Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes
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
1997 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
| 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
| 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
| 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 |
|
|
Conference finals
| 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
| 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
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