# 1998–99 WHL season

The 1998–99 WHL season was the 33rd season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The season featured eighteen teams and a 72-game season. The Calgary Hitmen won both the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy for posting the best regular season record and the President's Cup as playoff champions, both for the first time in team history. They thus earned a berth in the 1999 Memorial Cup tournament, where they lost the final to the Ottawa 67's.
Prior to the season, the Edmonton Ice relocated to Cranbrook, British Columbia and became the Kootenay Ice.

## Regular season
### Final standings

| East Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
| x Prince Albert Raiders | 72 | 45 | 22 | 5 | 95 | 288 | 213 |
| x Brandon Wheat Kings | 72 | 39 | 29 | 4 | 82 | 293 | 267 |
| x Moose Jaw Warriors | 72 | 39 | 31 | 2 | 80 | 292 | 262 |
| x Swift Current Broncos | 72 | 34 | 32 | 6 | 74 | 232 | 211 |
| Regina Pats | 72 | 24 | 43 | 5 | 53 | 238 | 312 |
| Saskatoon Blades | 72 | 16 | 49 | 7 | 39 | 184 | 291 |
| Central Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
| x Calgary Hitmen | 72 | 51 | 13 | 8 | 110 | 319 | 187 |
| x Red Deer Rebels | 72 | 34 | 33 | 5 | 73 | 274 | 250 |
| x Lethbridge Hurricanes | 72 | 31 | 32 | 9 | 71 | 224 | 215 |
| x Kootenay Ice | 72 | 30 | 35 | 7 | 67 | 245 | 276 |
| Medicine Hat Tigers | 72 | 15 | 56 | 1 | 31 | 185 | 323 |
| West Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
| x Kamloops Blazers | 72 | 48 | 11 | 13 | 109 | 298 | 195 |
| x Tri-City Americans | 72 | 43 | 23 | 6 | 92 | 311 | 219 |
| x Seattle Thunderbirds | 72 | 37 | 24 | 11 | 85 | 279 | 236 |
| x Prince George Cougars | 72 | 34 | 32 | 6 | 74 | 255 | 264 |
| x Portland Winter Hawks | 72 | 23 | 36 | 13 | 59 | 215 | 278 |
| x Kelowna Rockets | 72 | 25 | 42 | 5 | 55 | 241 | 282 |
| Spokane Chiefs | 72 | 19 | 44 | 9 | 47 | 193 | 268 |

### Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Pavel Brendl | Calgary Hitmen | 68 | 73 | 61 | 134 | 40 |
| Brad Moran | Calgary Hitmen | 71 | 60 | 58 | 118 | 96 |
| Dylan Gyori | Tri-City Americans | 69 | 53 | 65 | 118 | 112 |
| Chad Hinz | Moose Jaw Warriors | 71 | 42 | 75 | 117 | 40 |
| Scott Gomez | Tri-City Americans | 58 | 30 | 78 | 108 | 55 |
| Shawn McNeil | Red Deer Rebels | 72 | 44 | 59 | 103 | 87 |
| Brett McLean | Kelowna/Brandon | 65 | 47 | 54 | 101 | 66 |
| Bret DeCecco | Seattle Thunderbirds | 72 | 57 | 43 | 100 | 81 |
| Ryan Robson | Brandon Wheat Kings | 72 | 33 | 61 | 94 | 35 |
| Oleg Saprykin | Seattle Thunderbirds | 66 | 47 | 46 | 93 | 107 |

### 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 |
| Kenric Exner | Kamloops Blazers | 51 | 2967 | 34 | 6 | 8 | 114 | 5 | .912 | 2.31 |
| Bryce Wandler | Swift Current Broncos | 51 | 2885 | 23 | 20 | 4 | 123 | 3 | .905 | 2.56 |
| Alexander Fomichev | Calgary Hitmen | 57 | 3321 | 39 | 10 | 7 | 142 | 4 | .901 | 2.57 |
| Evan Lindsay | Prince Albert Raiders | 56 | 3336 | 34 | 16 | 5 | 158 | 1 | .905 | 2.84 |
| Cody Rudkowsky | Seattle Thunderbirds | 64 | 3670 | 34 | 17 | 10 | 177 | 7 | .920 | 2.89 |

## 1999 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 | | | | | | | | | | |
| C4 | Kootenay | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| C4 | Kootenay | 3 | C1 | Calgary | 4 | | | | | | | |
| | | | C2 | Red Deer | 0 | | | | | | | |
| E2 | Brandon | 1 | C2 | Red Deer | 0 | | | | | | | |
| C2 | Red Deer | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| C2 | Red Deer | 4 | | | | C1 | Calgary | 4 | | | | |
| | | | | | | E1 | Prince Albert | 1 | | | | |
| E1 | Prince Albert | 4 | | | | | | | E1 | Prince Albert | 1 | | | | |
| C3 | Lethbridge | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| C3 | Lethbridge | 0 | E1 | Prince Albert | 4 | | | | | | | |
| | | | E3 | Moose Jaw | 1 | | | | | | | |
| E3 | Moose Jaw | 4 | E3 | Moose Jaw | 1 | | | | | | | |
| E4 | Swift Current | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| E4 | Swift Current | 2 | | | | | | | | C1 | Calgary | 4 |
| | | | | | | | | | | W1 | Kamloops | 1 |
| W1 | Kamloops | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | W1 | Kamloops | 1 |
| W6 | Kelowna | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| W6 | Kelowna | 2 | W1 | Kamloops | bye | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | W1 | Kamloops | 4 | | | | |
| | | | | | | W2 | Tri-City | 0 | | | | |
| W2 | Tri-City | 4 | | | | | | | W2 | Tri-City | 0 | | | | |
| W5 | Portland | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| W5 | Portland | 0 | W2 | Tri-City | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | | | W3 | Seattle | 1 | | | | | | | |
| W3 | Seattle | 4 | W3 | Seattle | 1 | | | | | | | |
| W4 | Prince George | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |

### Conference quarterfinals
#### Eastern Conference

Calgary vs. Kootenay :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 24 | Kootenay 5 | 7 Calgary |
| March 26 | Calgary 3 | 6 Kootenay |
| March 27 | Calgary 4 | 5 Kootenay | OT |
| March 29 | Kootenay 2 | 5 Calgary |
| March 31 | Kootenay 2 | 3 Calgary |
| April 1 | Calgary 3 | 4 Kootenay |
| April 2 | Kootenay 3 | 8 Calgary |
| Calgary wins series 4–3 ||||
Prince Albert vs. Lethbridge :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 24 | Lethbridge 1 | 7 Prince Albert |
| March 26 | Lethbridge 2 | 3 Prince Albert |
| March 27 | Prince Albert 11 | 2 Lethbridge |
| March 29 | Prince Albert 4 | 1 Lethbridge |
| Prince Albert wins series 4–0 ||||
Moose Jaw vs. Swift Current :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 25 | Swift Current 2 | 3 Moose Jaw |
| March 26 | Swift Current 2 | 4 Moose Jaw |
| March 28 | Moose Jaw 3 | 4 Swift Current | OT |
| March 30 | Moose Jaw 5 | 3 Swift Current |
| March 31 | Swift Current 2 | 0 Moose Jaw |
| April 2 | Moose Jaw 3 | 2 Swift Current |
| Moose Jaw wins series 4–2 ||||
Red Deer vs. Brandon :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 24 | Red Deer 5 | 2 Brandon |
| March 25 | Red Deer 5 | 1 Brandon |
| March 27 | Brandon 5 | 9 Red Deer |
| March 28 | Brandon 4 | 3 Red Deer |
| March 30 | Red Deer 7 | 3 Brandon |
| Red Deer wins series 4–1 ||||

#### Western Conference

Kamloops vs. Kelowna :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 25 | Kelowna 0 | 2 Kamloops |
| March 36 | Kelowna 1 | 3 Kamloops |
| March 30 | Kamloops 1 | 3 Kelowna |
| April 1 | Kamloops 3 | 1 Kelowna |
| April 3 | Kelowna 4 | 3 Kamloops |
| April 4 | Kamloops 3 | 2 Kelowna |
| Kamloops wins series 4–2 ||||
Tri-City vs. Portland :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 26 | Portland 3 | 4 Tri-City | OT |
| March 27 | Portland 2 | 6 Tri-City |
| March 31 | Tri-City 3 | 2 Portland | OT |
| April 2 | Tri-City 6 | 2 Portland |
| Tri-City wins series 4–0 ||||
Seattle vs. Prince George :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 27 | Prince George 2 | 5 Seattle |
| March 28 | Prince George 1 | 3 Seattle |
| March 30 | Seattle 4 | 5 Prince George |
| March 31 | Seattle 3 | 2 Prince George |
| April 3 | Prince George 3 | 1 Seattle |
| April 5 | Seattle 1 | 4 Prince George |
| April 7 | Prince George 0 | 6 Seattle |
| Seattle wins series 4–3 ||||

### Conference semifinals

Eastern Conference :
Calgary vs. Red Deer :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 5 | Red Deer 3 | 6 Calgary |
| April 6 | Calgary 4 | 3 Red Deer | OT |
| April 8 | Red Deer 2 | 4 Calgary |
| April 9 | Calgary 3 | 1 Red Deer |
| Calgary wins series 4–0 ||||
Prince Albert vs. Moose Jaw :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 5 | Moose Jaw 1 | 5 Prince Albert |
| April 6 | Moose Jaw 2 | 5 Prince Albert |
| April 8 | Prince Albert 6 | 0 Moose Jaw |
| April 9 | Prince Albert 3 | 4 Moose Jaw |
| April 11 | Moose Jaw 3 | 8 Prince Albert |
| Prince Albert wins series 4–1 ||||
Western Conference :
Tri-City vs. Seattle :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 9 | Seattle 4 | 3 Tri-City |
| April 10 | Seattle 0 | 6 Tri-City |
| April 12 | Tri-City 4 | 0 Seattle |
| April 13 | Tri-City 4 | 2 Seattle |
| Tri-City wins series 3–1 ||||

### Conference finals

| Eastern Conference | Western Conference |
| Calgary vs. Prince Albert DateAwayHome April 16Prince Albert 37 Calgary April 18Prince Albert 45 CalgaryOT April 20Calgary 56 Prince Albert April 22Calgary 71 Prince Albert April 24Prince Albert 26 Calgary Calgary wins series 4–1 | Kamloops vs. Tri-City DateAwayHome April 17Tri-City 34 Kamloops April 18Tri-City 06 Kamloops April 21Kamloops 32 Tri-CityOT April 22Kamloops 43 Tri-City Kamloops wins series 4–0 |

### WHL Championship

Calgary vs. Kamloops :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 30 | Kamloops 4 | 2 Calgary |
| May 2 | Kamloops 0 | 4 Calgary |
| May 4 | Calgary 4 | 2 Kamloops |
| May 5 | Calgary 4 | 3 Kamloops | 2OT |
| May 7 | Kamloops 2 | 5 Calgary |
| Calgary wins series 4–1 ||||

## All-Star game

On January 20, the Western Conference defeated the Eastern Conference 11–9 at Lethbridge, Alberta before a crowd of 5,071.

## WHL awards

* Player of the Year - Four Broncos Memorial Trophy: Cody Rudkowsky, Seattle Thunderbirds
* Scholastic Player of the Year - Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy: Chris Nielson, Calgary Hitmen
* Top Scorer - Bob Clarke Trophy: Pavel Brendl, Calgary Hitmen
* Most Sportsmanlike Player - Brad Hornung Trophy: Matt Kinch, Calgary Hitmen
* Top Defenseman - Bill Hunter Trophy: Brad Stuart, Calgary Hitmen
* Rookie of the Year - Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy: Pavel Brendl, Calgary Hitmen
* Top Goaltender - Del Wilson Trophy: Cody Rudkowsky, Seattle Thunderbirds
* Coach of the Year - Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy: Don Hay, Tri-City Americans
* Executive of the Year - Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy: Don Hay, Tri-City Americans
* Regular season champions - Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy: Calgary Hitmen
* Top Official - Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy: Kelly Sutherland
* Marketing/Public Relations Award - St. Clair Group Trophy: Scott Clark, Regina Pats
* WHL Humanitarian of the Year: Andrew Ference, Portland Winter Hawks
* WHL Plus-Minus Award: Pavel Brendl, Calgary Hitmen
* WHL Playoff Most Valuable Player: Brad Moran, Calgary Hitmen

## All-Star Teams

Eastern Conference :
| | First Team | First Team | Second Team | Second Team |
| Goal | Alexander Fomichev | Calgary Hitmen | Evan Lindsay | Prince Albert Raiders |
| Defense | Brad Stuart | Calgary Hitmen | Kurt Drummond | Swift Current Broncos |
| Defense | Matt Kinch | Calgary Hitmen | Burke Henry | Brandon Wheat Kings |
| Forward | Pavel Brendl | Calgary Hitmen | Brad Leeb | Red Deer Rebels |
| Forward | Brad Moran | Calgary Hitmen | Jamie Lundmark | Moose Jaw Warriors |
| Forward | Chad Hinz | Moose Jaw Warriors | Brett Lysak | Regina Pats |
| Western Conference |||||
| | First Team | First Team | Second Team | Second Team |
| Goal | Cody Rudkowsky | Seattle Thunderbirds | Kenric Exner | Kamloops Blazers |
| Defense | Robyn Regehr | Kamloops Blazers | Andrew Ference | Portland Winter Hawks |
| Defense | Scott Hannan | Kelowna Rockets | Garry Toor | Prince George Cougars |
| Forward | Scott Gomez | Tri-City Americans | Ajay Baines | Kamloops Blazers |
| Forward | Dylan Gyori | Tri-City Americans | Bret DeCecco | Seattle Thunderbirds |
| Forward | Brenden Morrow | Portland Winter Hawks | Oleg Saprykin | Seattle Thunderbirds |