# 1998–99 IHL season

The 1998–99 IHL season was the 54th season of the International Hockey League, a North American minor professional league. 16 teams participated in the regular season, and the Houston Aeros won the Turner Cup.

## Regular season
### Eastern Conference

| Central Division | GP | W | L | SOL | GF | GA | Pts |
| Michigan K-Wings (DAL) | 82 | 35 | 34 | 13 | 232 | 253 | 83 |
| Fort Wayne Komets | 82 | 33 | 33 | 16 | 250 | 280 | 82 |
| Indianapolis Ice | 82 | 33 | 37 | 12 | 243 | 277 | 78 |
| Cleveland Lumberjacks (TBL) | 82 | 28 | 47 | 7 | 248 | 310 | 63 |
| Northeast Division | GP | W | L | SOL | GF | GA | Pts |
| Detroit Vipers | 82 | 50 | 21 | 11 | 259 | 195 | 111 |
| Orlando Solar Bears | 82 | 45 | 33 | 4 | 264 | 253 | 94 |
| Cincinnati Cyclones | 82 | 44 | 32 | 6 | 269 | 270 | 94 |
| Grand Rapids Griffins | 82 | 34 | 40 | 8 | 256 | 281 | 76 |

### Western Conference

| Midwest Division | GP | W | L | SOL | GF | GA | Pts |
| Chicago Wolves | 82 | 49 | 21 | 12 | 285 | 246 | 110 |
| Manitoba Moose | 82 | 47 | 21 | 14 | 269 | 236 | 108 |
| Kansas City Blades | 82 | 44 | 31 | 7 | 256 | 270 | 95 |
| Milwaukee Admirals (NSH) | 82 | 38 | 28 | 16 | 254 | 265 | 92 |
| Southwest Division | GP | W | L | SOL | GF | GA | Pts |
| Houston Aeros | 82 | 54 | 15 | 13 | 307 | 209 | 121 |
| Long Beach Ice Dogs (LAK) | 82 | 48 | 28 | 6 | 260 | 237 | 102 |
| Utah Grizzlies | 82 | 39 | 34 | 9 | 244 | 254 | 87 |
| Las Vegas Thunder (PHX) | 82 | 35 | 39 | 8 | 247 | 307 | 78 |

## Turner Cup-Playoffs

| Turner Cup-Pre-Playoffs | Turner Cup-Pre-Playoffs | Turner Cup-Pre-Playoffs | | | Turner Cup-Quarterfinals | Turner Cup-Quarterfinals | Turner Cup-Quarterfinals | Turner Cup-Semifinals | Turner Cup-Semifinals | Turner Cup-Semifinals | Turner Cup-Final | Turner Cup-Final | Turner Cup-Final |
| | | | | | E1 | Detroit | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | E6 | Indianapolis | 1 | | | | | | |
| E3 | Cincinnati | 1 | | | E6 | Indianapolis | 1 | | | | | | |
| E6 | Indianapolis | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| E6 | Indianapolis | 2 | | | | | | E1 | Detroit | 3 | | | |
| Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | E1 | Detroit | 3 | | | |
| Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | E2 | Orlando | 4 | | | |
| | | | | | E2 | Orlando | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | E4 | Michigan | 0 | | | | | | |
| E4 | Michigan | 2 | | | E4 | Michigan | 0 | | | | | | |
| E5 | Fort Wayne | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| E5 | Fort Wayne | 0 | | | | | | | | | E2 | Orlando | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | W1 | Houston | 4 |
| | | | | | W1 | Houston | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | W4 | Long Beach | 2 | | | | | | |
| W4 | Long Beach | 2 | | | W4 | Long Beach | 2 | | | | | | |
| W5 | Kansas City | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| W5 | Kansas City | 1 | | | | | | W1 | Houston | 4 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | W2 | Chicago | 3 | | | |
| | | | | | W2 | Chicago | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | W3 | Manitoba | 0 | | | | | | |
| W3 | Manitoba | 2 | | | W3 | Manitoba | 0 | | | | | | |
| W6 | Milwaukee | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Pre-Playoffs
#### (E3) Cincinnati Cyclones vs. (E6) Indianapolis Ice

* Indianapolis wins series 2–1

#### (E4) Michigan K-Wings vs. (E5) Fort Wayne Komets

* Michigan wins series 2–0

#### (W3) Manitoba Moose vs. (W6) Milwaukee Admirals

* Manitoba wins series 2–0

#### (W4) Long Beach Ice Dogs vs. (W5) Kansas City Blades

* Long Beach wins series 2–1

### Quarterfinals
#### (E1) Detroit Vipers vs. (E6) Indianapolis Ice

* Detroit wins series 3–1

#### (E2) Orlando Solar Bears vs. (E4) Michigan K-Wings

* Orlando wins series 3–0

#### (W1) Houston Aeros vs. (W4) Long Beach Ice Dogs

* Houston wins series 3–2

#### (W2) Chicago Wolves vs. (W3) Manitoba Moose

* Chicago wins series 3–0

### Semifinals
#### (E1) Detroit Vipers vs. (E2) Orlando Solar Bears

* Orlando wins series 4–3

#### (W1) Houston Aeros vs. (W2) Chicago Wolves

* Houston wins series 4–3

### Turner Cup Final
#### (E2) Orlando Solar Bears vs. (W1) Houston Aeros

* Houston wins series 4–3

## Player statistics
### Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Brian Wiseman | Houston Aeros | 77 | 21 | 88 | 109 | 106 |
| Steve Maltais | Chicago Wolves | 82 | 56 | 54 | 100 | 164 |
| Bill Bowler | Kansas City Blades | 82 | 26 | 67 | 93 | 59 |
| Gilbert Dionne | Cincinnati Cyclones | 76 | 35 | 53 | 88 | 123 |
| Todd Simon | Cincinnati Cyclones | 81 | 26 | 61 | 87 | 72 |
| Brett Harkins | Cleveland Lumberjacks | 74 | 20 | 67 | 87 | 84 |
| Jeff Christian | Houston Aeros | 80 | 45 | 41 | 86 | 252 |
| Glen Metropolit | Grand Rapids Griffins | 77 | 28 | 53 | 81 | 92 |
| Chris Marinucci | Chicago Wolves | 82 | 41 | 40 | 81 | 24 |
| David Hymovitz | Indianapolis Ice | 78 | 46 | 30 | 76 | 42 |

### Leading goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; Min – Minutes played; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts
| Player | Team | GP | MIN | GA | GAA | W | L | T | SO |
| Kevin Weekes | Detroit Vipers | 33 | 1,857 | 64 | 2.07 | 19 | 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Andrei Trefilov | Indianapolis Ice/Detroit Vipers | 45 | 2,599 | 92 | 2.12 | 26 | 14 | 4 | 3 |
| Manny Legace | Long Beach Ice Dogs | 33 | 1,796 | 67 | 2.24 | 22 | 8 | 1 | 2 |
| Manny Fernandez | Houston Aeros | 50 | 2,949 | 116 | 2.36 | 34 | 6 | 9 | 2 |
| Christian Bronsard | Manitoba Moose | 33 | 1,746 | 71 | 2.44 | 15 | 8 | 4 | 1 |

## Awards

1999 IHL awards :
| Turner Cup | Houston Aeros |
| Fred A. Huber Trophy: (Best regular-season record) | Houston Aeros |
| Frank Gallagher Trophy: (Eastern Conference playoff champion) | Orlando Solar Bears |
| Ken Ullyot Trophy: (Western Conference playoff champion) | Houston Aeros |
| Commissioner's Trophy: (Best coach) | Dave Tippett, Houston Aeros |
| Gary F. Longman Memorial Trophy: (Best first-year player) | Marty Turco, Michigan K-Wings |
| I. John Snider, II Trophy: (Leadership and humanitarian contribution) | Chris Marinucci, Chicago Wolves |
| Ironman Award: (Best two-way player over 82 games) | Stan Drulia, Detroit Vipers |
| James Gatschene Memorial Trophy: (Most valuable player, regular season) | Brian Wiseman, Houston Aeros |
| James Norris Memorial Trophy: (Goaltenders with lowest GAA) | Andrei Trefilov and Kevin Weekes, Detroit Vipers |
| John Cullen Award: (Sportsmanship, perseverance, and dedication) | Jeff Christian, Houston Aeros |
| Ken McKenzie Trophy: (Best U.S.-born first-year player) | Mark Mowers, Milwaukee Admirals |
| Larry D. Gordon Trophy: (Best defenceman) | Greg Hawgood, Houston Aeros |
| Leo P. Lamoureux Memorial Trophy: (Player with most points) | Brian Wiseman, Houston Aeros |
| Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy: (Most valuable player, playoffs) | Mark Freer, Houston Aeros |

### All-Star teams

| First team | Position | Position | Second team |
| Patrick Lalime, Kansas City Blades | G | G | Andrei Trefilov, Indianapolis Ice/Detroit Vipers |
| Brett Hauer, Manitoba Moose | D | D | Dan Lambert, Long Beach Ice Dogs |
| Greg Hawgood, Houston Aeros | D | D | Tom Tilley, Chicago Wolves |
| Brian Wiseman, Houston Aeros | C | C | Bill Bowler, Kansas City Blades |
| Scott Thomas, Manitoba Moose | RW | C | Chris Marinucci, Chicago Wolves |
| Steve Maltais, Chicago Wolves | LW | LW | David Hymovitz, Indianapolis Ice |