1997–98 WHL season explained
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
Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|
| | 72 | 66 | 53 | 119 | 132 |
| | 72 | 47 | 71 | 118 | 28 |
| | 71 | 64 | 49 | 113 | 178 |
| | 64 | 58 | 54 | 112 | 73 |
| | 69 | 54 | 58 | 112 | 31 |
| Shawn McNeil | | 72 | 47 | 62 | 109 | 69 |
| | 70 | 42 | 67 | 109 | 206 |
| | 71 | 35 | 74 | 109 | 55 |
| | 72 | 51 | 52 | 103 | 47 |
| | 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
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
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 | |
| |
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.[1]
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
See also
References
Notes and References
- News: Give Him A Hand. January 15, 1998. The Leader-Post. Regina, Saskatchewan. B1.
