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1997–98 WHL season
Junior ice hockey season
Junior ice hockey season
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| title | 1997–98 WHL season |
| league | Western Hockey League |
| sport | Ice hockey |
| playoffs | Playoffs |
| playoffs_MVP_link | WHL Playoff MVP |
| playoffs_MVP | Brent Belecki (Winter Hawks) |
| finals_champ | Portland Winter Hawks (2) |
| finals_runner-up | Brandon Wheat Kings |
| no_of_teams | 18 |
| season | Regular season |
| season_champ_name | Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy |
| season_champs | Portland Winter Hawks (2) |
| MVP_link | Four Broncos Memorial Trophy |
| MVP | Sergei Varlamov (Swift Current Broncos) |
| top_scorer_link | Bob Clarke Trophy |
| top_scorer | Sergei Varlamov (Swift Current Broncos) |
| seasonslistnames | WHL |
| prevseason_year | [1996–97](1996-97-whl-season) |
| nextseason_year | [1998–99](1998-99-whl-season) |
| finals_runner-up = Brandon Wheat Kings | finals_runner-up = Guelph Storm (OHL)
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 | RD1-seed01= C1 | RD1-team01= Calgary | RD1-score01= 4 | RD1-seed02= E4 | RD1-team02= Saskatoon | RD1-score02= 2 | RD1-seed03= E2 | RD1-team03= Swift Current | RD1-score03= 4 | RD1-seed04= C3 | RD1-team04= Red Deer | RD1-score04= 1 | RD1-seed05= E1 | RD1-team05= Regina | RD1-score05= 4 | RD1-seed06= E5 | RD1-team06= Moose Jaw | RD1-score06= 0 | RD1-seed07= E3 | RD1-team07= Brandon | RD1-score07= 4 | RD1-seed08= C2 | RD1-team08= Lethbridge | RD1-score08= 0 | RD1-seed09= W1 | RD1-team09= Portland | RD1-score09= 4 | RD1-seed10= W6 | RD1-team10= Seattle | RD1-score10= 1 | RD1-seed13= W2 | RD1-team13= Spokane | RD1-score13= 4 | RD1-seed14= W5 | RD1-team14= Kelowna | RD1-score14= 3 | RD1-seed15= W3 | RD1-team15= Prince George | RD1-score15= 4 | RD1-seed16= W4 | RD1-team16= Kamloops | RD1-score16= 3 | RD2-seed01= C1 | RD2-team01= Calgary | RD2-score01= 4 | RD2-seed02= E2 | RD2-team02= Swift Current | RD2-score02= 3 | RD2-seed03= E1 | RD2-team03= Regina | RD2-score03= 1 | RD2-seed04= E3 | RD2-team04= Brandon | RD2-score04= 4 | RD2-seed05= W1 | RD2-team05= Portland | RD2-score05= bye | RD2-seed07= W2 | RD2-team07= Spokane | RD2-score07= 3 | RD2-seed08= W3 | RD2-team08= Prince George | RD2-score08= 1 | RD3-seed01= C1 | RD3-team01= Calgary | RD3-score01= 1 | RD3-seed02= E3 | RD3-team02= Brandon | RD3-score02= 4 | RD3-seed03= W1 | RD3-team03= Portland | RD3-score03= 4 | RD3-seed04= W2 | RD3-team04= Spokane | RD3-score04= 3 | RD4-seed01= E3 | RD4-team01= Brandon | RD4-score01= 0 | RD4-seed02= W1 | RD4-team02= Portland | RD4-score02= 4
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
| 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*** |
|}
| 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*** |
| Portland earns bye |
|---|
|}
Conference finals
| Calgary vs. Brandon | Date | Away | Home |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 11 | **Brandon 5** | 4 Calgary | |
| April 12 | **Brandon 5** | 4 Calgary | |
| April 14 | **Calgary 3** | 2 Brandon | OT |
| April 15 | Calgary 1 | **4 Brandon** | |
| April 17 | **Brandon 4** | 1 Calgary | |
| ***Brandon wins series 4–1*** |
| Portland vs. Spokane | Date | Away | Home |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 11 | **Spokane 6** | 3 Portland | |
| April 13 | Spokane 0 | **2 Portland** | |
| April 15 | **Portland 4** | 1 Spokane | |
| April 16 | Portland 3 | **5 Spokane** | |
| April 18 | Spokane 2 | **9 Portland** | |
| April 21 | Portland 2 | **5 Spokane** | |
| April 22 | Spokane 2 | **3 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 match was refereed by future National Hockey League official Mike Hasenfratz.
WHL awards
| WHL Playoff Most Valuable Player: Brent Belecki, Portland Winter Hawks |
|---|
All-Star teams
| Eastern Conference | First Team | Second Team | Western Conference | First 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 | |
| Burke Henry | Brandon Wheat Kings | Brad Stuart | Regina Pats | ||
| Forward | Sergei Varlamov | Swift Current Broncos | Josh Holden | Regina Pats | |
| Shane Willis | Lethbridge Hurricanes | Ronald Petrovicky | Regina Pats | ||
| Cory Cyrenne | Brandon Wheat Kings | Mark Smith | Lethbridge Hurricanes | ||
| Goal | Brent Belecki | Portland Winter Hawks | Randy Petruk | Kamloops Blazers | |
| Defense | Joel Kwiatkowski | Prince George Cougars | Eric Brewer | Prince George Cougars | |
| Andrew Ference | Portland Winter Hawks | Cory Sarich | Seattle Thunderbirds | ||
| Forward | Quinn Hancock | Prince George Cougars | Jason Deleurme | Kelowna Rockets | |
| Marián Hossa | Portland Winter Hawks | Greg Leeb | Spokane Chiefs | ||
| Mark Parrish | Seattle Thunderbirds | Brett McLean | Kelowna Rockets | ||
| - | - | Todd Robinson | Portland Winter Hawks | ||
| - | - | Trent Whitfield | Spokane Chiefs |
References
- whl.ca
- 2005–06 WHL Guide
before = 1996–97 WHL season | after = 1998–99 WHL season | title = WHL seasons | years = |
References
- (January 15, 1998). "Give Him A Hand". [[Regina Leader-Post.
Info: Wikipedia Source
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