# 1997–98 WHL season

The 1997–98 WHL season was the 32nd season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The season featured eighteen teams and a 72-game season. The Portland Winter Hawks won both the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as regular season champions and the President's Cup as playoff champions before going on to win the 1998 Memorial Cup, which was hosted by the Spokane Chiefs.

## Regular season
### Final standings

| East Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
| x Regina Pats | 72 | 46 | 21 | 5 | 97 | 334 | 250 |
| x Swift Current Broncos | 72 | 44 | 19 | 9 | 97 | 276 | 220 |
| x Brandon Wheat Kings | 72 | 45 | 21 | 6 | 96 | 322 | 235 |
| x Saskatoon Blades | 72 | 25 | 39 | 8 | 58 | 263 | 327 |
| x Moose Jaw Warriors | 72 | 23 | 39 | 10 | 56 | 235 | 281 |
| Prince Albert Raiders | 72 | 20 | 47 | 5 | 45 | 222 | 288 |
| Central Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
| x Calgary Hitmen | 72 | 40 | 28 | 4 | 84 | 265 | 232 |
| x Lethbridge Hurricanes | 72 | 32 | 29 | 11 | 75 | 261 | 237 |
| x Red Deer Rebels | 72 | 27 | 40 | 5 | 59 | 281 | 323 |
| Edmonton Ice | 72 | 17 | 49 | 6 | 40 | 242 | 328 |
| Medicine Hat Tigers | 72 | 16 | 50 | 6 | 38 | 188 | 340 |
| West Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
| x Portland Winter Hawks | 72 | 53 | 14 | 5 | 111 | 342 | 203 |
| x Spokane Chiefs | 72 | 45 | 23 | 4 | 94 | 288 | 235 |
| x Prince George Cougars | 72 | 43 | 24 | 5 | 91 | 311 | 236 |
| x Kamloops Blazers | 72 | 37 | 32 | 3 | 77 | 234 | 253 |
| x Kelowna Rockets | 72 | 33 | 35 | 4 | 70 | 313 | 290 |
| x Seattle Thunderbirds | 72 | 31 | 35 | 6 | 68 | 286 | 278 |
| Tri-City Americans | 72 | 17 | 49 | 6 | 40 | 264 | 371 |

### Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Sergei Varlamov | Swift Current Broncos | 72 | 66 | 53 | 119 | 132 |
| Cory Cyrenne | Brandon Wheat Kings | 72 | 47 | 71 | 118 | 28 |
| Ronald Petrovicky | Regina Pats | 71 | 64 | 49 | 113 | 178 |
| Shane Willis | Lethbridge Hurricanes | 64 | 58 | 54 | 112 | 73 |
| Quinn Hancock | Prince George Cougars | 69 | 54 | 58 | 112 | 31 |
| Shawn McNeil | Red Deer Rebels | 72 | 47 | 62 | 109 | 69 |
| Mark Smith | Lethbridge Hurricanes | 70 | 42 | 67 | 109 | 206 |
| Todd Robinson | Portland Winter Hawks | 71 | 35 | 74 | 109 | 55 |
| Jason Deleurme | Kelowna Rockets | 72 | 51 | 52 | 103 | 47 |
| Brad Moran | Calgary Hitmen | 72 | 53 | 49 | 102 | 64 |

### 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 |
| Brent Belecki | Portland Winter Hawks | 51 | 3052 | 35 | 10 | 5 | 131 | 2 | .918 | 2.58 |
| Terry Friesen | Swift Current Broncos | 44 | 2640 | 26 | 10 | 7 | 124 | 1 | .907 | 2.82 |
| Scott Myers | Prince George Cougars | 48 | 2823 | 29 | 13 | 4 | 139 | 2 | .900 | 2.95 |
| Alexandre Fomitchev | Calgary Hitmen | 60 | 3383 | 32 | 23 | 1 | 168 | 1 | .898 | 2.98 |
| Ryan Hoople | Lethbridge/Regina | 58 | 3266 | 34 | 18 | 4 | 164 | 4 | .899 | 3.01 |

## 1998 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 | Calgary | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| E4 | Saskatoon | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| E4 | Saskatoon | 2 | C1 | Calgary | 4 | | | | | | | |
| | | | E2 | Swift Current | 3 | | | | | | | |
| E2 | Swift Current | 4 | E2 | Swift Current | 3 | | | | | | | |
| C3 | Red Deer | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| C3 | Red Deer | 1 | | | | C1 | Calgary | 1 | | | | |
| | | | | | | E3 | Brandon | 4 | | | | |
| E1 | Regina | 4 | | | | | | | E3 | Brandon | 4 | | | | |
| E5 | Moose Jaw | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| E5 | Moose Jaw | 0 | E1 | Regina | 1 | | | | | | | |
| | | | E3 | Brandon | 4 | | | | | | | |
| E3 | Brandon | 4 | E3 | Brandon | 4 | | | | | | | |
| C2 | Lethbridge | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| C2 | Lethbridge | 0 | | | | | | | | E3 | Brandon | 0 |
| | | | | | | | | | | W1 | Portland | 4 |
| W1 | Portland | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | W1 | Portland | 4 |
| W6 | Seattle | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| W6 | Seattle | 1 | W1 | Portland | bye | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | W1 | Portland | 4 | | | | |
| | | | | | | W2 | Spokane | 3 | | | | |
| W2 | Spokane | 4 | | | | | | | W2 | Spokane | 3 | | | | |
| W5 | Kelowna | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| W5 | Kelowna | 3 | W2 | Spokane | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | | | W3 | Prince George | 1 | | | | | | | |
| W3 | Prince George | 4 | W3 | Prince George | 1 | | | | | | | |
| W4 | Kamloops | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |

### Conference quarterfinals
#### Eastern Conference

Regina vs. Moose Jaw :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 19 | Moose Jaw 0 | 7 Regina |
| March 20 | Moose Jaw 1 | 2 Regina |
| March 22 | Regina 4 | 3 Moose Jaw | 2OT |
| March 23 | Regina 6 | 5 Moose Jaw | 2OT |
| Regina wins series 4–0 ||||
Brandon vs. Lethbridge :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 18 | Lethbridge 3 | 5 Brandon |
| March 20 | Lethbridge 3 | 6 Brandon |
| March 22 | Brandon 7 | 3 Lethbridge |
| March 23 | Brandon 4 | 1 Lethbridge |
| Brandon wins series 4–0 ||||
Calgary vs. Saskatoon :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 17 | Calgary 3 | 0 Saskatoon |
| March 19 | Saskatoon 4 | 1 Calgary |
| March 22 | Saskatoon 1 | 3 Calgary |
| March 24 | Calgary 1 | 6 Saskatoon |
| March 25 | Saskatoon 2 | 3 Calgary |
| March 27 | Calgary 3 | 2 Saskatoon |
| Calgary wins series 4–2 ||||
Swift Current vs. Red Deer :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 19 | Red Deer 0 | 3 Swift Current |
| March 20 | Red Deer 3 | 4 Swift Current | OT |
| March 22 | Swift Current 3 | 4 Red Deer |
| March 23 | Swift Current 3 | 2 Red Deer |
| March 29 | Red Deer 2 | 5 Swift Current |
| Swift Current wins series 4–1 ||||

#### Western Conference

Spokane vs. Kelowna :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 21 | Spokane 4 | 6 Kelowna |
| March 24 | Kelowna 3 | 4 Spokane | OT |
| March 25 | Spokane 2 | 5 Kelowna |
| April 27 | Kelowna 2 | 6 Spokane |
| March 29 | Kelowna 6 | 3 Spokane |
| March 31 | Spokane 2 | 0 Kelowna |
| April 1 | Kelowna 1 | 5 Spokane |
| Spokane wins series 4–3 ||||
Prince George vs. Kamloops :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 20 | Kamloops 2 | 1 Prince George |
| March 21 | Kamloops 0 | 6 Prince George |
| March 24 | Prince George 3 | 5 Kamloops |
| March 25 | Prince George 1 | 2 Kamloops |
| March 27 | Kamloops 1 | 4 Prince George |
| March 29 | Prince George 4 | 3 Kamloops |
| March 31 | Kamloops 1 | 2 Prince George |
| Prince George wins series 4–3 ||||
Portland vs. Seattle :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 20 | Seattle 3 | 7 Portland |
| March 21 | Portland 1 | 3 Seattle |
| March 22 | Seattle 1 | 5 Portland |
| March 26 | Portland 5 | 2 Seattle |
| March 27 | Seattle 2 | 3 Portland |
| Portland wins series 4–1 ||||

### Conference semifinals

Eastern Conference :
Calgary vs. Swift Current :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 30 | Swift Current 2 | 5 Calgary |
| April 1 | Calgary 2 | 3 Swift Current | 2OT |
| April 2 | Calgary 1 | 5 Swift Current |
| April 4 | Swift Current 5 | 2 Calgary |
| April 6 | Swift Current 2 | 3 Calgary |
| April 7 | Calgary 4 | 1 Swift Current |
| April 8 | Swift Current 0 | 1 Calgary |
| Calgary wins series 4–3 ||||
Regina vs. Brandon :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 30 | Brandon 4 | 2 Regina |
| March 31 | Brandon 2 | 5 Regina |
| April 2 | Regina 1 | 6 Brandon |
| April 4 | Regina 3 | 5 Brandon |
| April 6 | Brandon 7 | 3 Regina |
| Brandon wins series 4–1 ||||
Western Conference :
Spokane vs. Prince George :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 3 | Prince George 3 | 0 Spokane |
| April 5 | Prince George 1 | 4 Spokane |
| April 7 | Spokane 4 | 2 Prince George |
| April 8 | Spokane 5 | 2 Prince George |
| Spokane wins series 3–1 ||||

### Conference finals

| Eastern Conference | Western Conference |
| Calgary vs. Brandon DateAwayHome April 11Brandon 54 Calgary April 12Brandon 54 Calgary April 14Calgary 32 BrandonOT April 15Calgary 14 Brandon April 17Brandon 41 Calgary Brandon wins series 4–1 | Portland vs. Spokane DateAwayHome April 11Spokane 63 Portland April 13Spokane 02 Portland April 15Portland 41 Spokane April 16Portland 35 Spokane April 18Spokane 29 Portland April 21Portland 25 Spokane April 22Spokane 23 Portland Portland wins series 4–3 |

### WHL Championship

Portland vs. Brandon :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 25 | Brandon 3 | 7 Portland |
| April 26 | Brandon 1 | 5 Portland |
| April 29 | Portland 7 | 2 Brandon |
| May 1 | Portland 4 | 3 Brandon |
| Portland wins series 4–0 ||||

## All-Star Game

On January 21, the Western Conference defeated the Eastern Conference 7–6 at Regina, Saskatchewan before a crowd of 6,050. The was refereed by future National Hockey League official Mike Hasenfratz.

## WHL awards

* Player of the Year - Four Broncos Memorial Trophy: Sergei Varlamov, Swift Current Broncos
* Scholastic Player of the Year - Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy: Kyle Rossiter, Spokane Chiefs
* Top Scorer - Bob Clarke Trophy: Sergei Varlamov, Swift Current Broncos
* Most Sportsmanlike Player - Brad Hornung Trophy: Cory Cyrenne, Brandon Wheat Kings
* Top Defenseman - Bill Hunter Trophy: Michal Rozsival, Swift Current Broncos
* Rookie of the Year - Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy: Marian Hossa, Portland Winter Hawks
* Top Goaltender - Del Wilson Trophy: Brent Belecki, Portland Winter Hawks
* Coach of the Year - Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy: Dean Clark, Calgary Hitmen
* Executive of the Year - Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy: Ken Hodge, Portland Winter Hawks
* Regular season champions - Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy: Portland Winter Hawks
* Top Official - Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy: Brad Meier
* Marketing/Public Relations Award - St. Clair Group Trophy: Dane MacKinnon, Prince George Cougars
* WHL Humanitarian of the Year: Jesse Wallin, Red Deer Rebels
* WHL Plus-Minus Award: Andrew Ference, Portland Winter Hawks
* WHL Playoff Most Valuable Player: Brent Belecki, Portland Winter Hawks

## All-Star Teams

Eastern Conference :
| | First Team | First Team | Second Team | Second Team |
| Goal | Terry Friesen | Swift Current Broncos | Evan Lindsay | Prince Albert Raiders |
| Defense | Michal Rozsíval | Swift Current Broncos | Johnathan Aitken | Brandon Wheat Kings |
| Defense | Burke Henry | Brandon Wheat Kings | Brad Stuart | Regina Pats |
| Forward | Sergei Varlamov | Swift Current Broncos | Josh Holden | Regina Pats |
| Forward | Shane Willis | Lethbridge Hurricanes | Ronald Petrovicky | Regina Pats |
| Forward | Cory Cyrenne | Brandon Wheat Kings | Mark Smith | Lethbridge Hurricanes |
| Western Conference |||||
| | First Team | First Team | Second Team | Second Team |
| Goal | Brent Belecki | Portland Winter Hawks | Randy Petruk | Kamloops Blazers |
| Defense | Joel Kwiatkowski | Prince George Cougars | Eric Brewer | Prince George Cougars |
| Defense | Andrew Ference | Portland Winter Hawks | Cory Sarich | Seattle Thunderbirds |
| Forward | Quinn Hancock | Prince George Cougars | Jason Deleurme | Kelowna Rockets |
| Forward | Marián Hossa | Portland Winter Hawks | Greg Leeb | Spokane Chiefs |
| Forward | Mark Parrish | Seattle Thunderbirds | Brett McLean | Kelowna Rockets |
| Forward | - | - | Todd Robinson | Portland Winter Hawks |
| Forward | - | - | Trent Whitfield | Spokane Chiefs |