# 1996–97 WHL season

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

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

## Regular season
### Final standings

| 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

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

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

* 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 | First Round | First Round | Division Semi-Finals | Division Semi-Finals | Division Semi-Finals | Division Finals | Division Finals | Division Finals | | WHL Championship | WHL Championship | WHL Championship |
| C1 | Lethbridge | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| E5 | Prince Albert | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| E5 | Prince Albert | 0 | C1 | Lethbridge | 4 | | | | | | | |
| | | | E4 | Moose Jaw | 2 | | | | | | | |
| E1 | Brandon | 2 | E4 | Moose Jaw | 2 | | | | | | | |
| E4 | Moose Jaw | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| E4 | Moose Jaw | 4 | | | | C1 | Lethbridge | 4 | | | | |
| | | | | | | C2 | Red Deer | 1 | | | | |
| E2 | Swift Current | 4 | | | | | | | C2 | Red Deer | 1 | | | | |
| C3 | Medicine Hat | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| C3 | Medicine Hat | 0 | E2 | Swift Current | 2 | | | | | | | |
| | | | C2 | Red Deer | 4 | | | | | | | |
| C2 | Red Deer | 4 | C2 | Red Deer | 4 | | | | | | | |
| E3 | Regina | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| E3 | Regina | 1 | | | | | | | | C1 | Lethbridge | 4 |
| | | | | | | | | | | W2 | Seattle | 0 |
| W2 | Seattle | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | W2 | Seattle | 0 |
| W5 | Kamloops | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| W5 | Kamloops | 1 | W2 | Seattle | bye | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | W2 | Seattle | 4 | | | | |
| | | | | | | W6 | Prince George | 2 | | | | |
| W1 | Portland | 2 | | | | | | | W6 | Prince George | 2 | | | | |
| W6 | Prince George | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| W6 | Prince George | 4 | W3 | Spokane | 0 | | | | | | | |
| | | | W6 | Prince George | 3 | | | | | | | |
| W3 | Spokane | 4 | W6 | Prince George | 3 | | | | | | | |
| W4 | Kelowna | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |

### Conference Quarterfinals
#### 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 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 :
| 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
* 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

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