1999–2000 WHL season explained
The 1999–2000 WHL season was the 34th season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The season featured eighteen teams and a 72-game season. The Calgary Hitmen won their second consecutive Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy for having the league's best regular season record. In the playoffs, the Kootenay Ice won the franchise's first President's Cup in just their second season playing in Cranbrook, British Columbia.
League notes
- The WHL followed the lead of the National Hockey League and adopted both 4-on-4 overtime and a standings format that saw teams losing in overtime earn one point.
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 | 48 | 72 | 120 | 84 |
| | 61 | 59 | 52 | 111 | 91 |
| | 69 | 42 | 64 | 106 | 190 |
| | 71 | 50 | 54 | 104 | 66 |
| | 72 | 39 | 57 | 96 | 135 |
| | 71 | 26 | 70 | 96 | 61 |
| | 67 | 46 | 49 | 95 | 47 |
| | 69 | 43 | 49 | 92 | 63 |
| | 68 | 47 | 44 | 91 | 131 |
| | 72 | 33 | 58 | 91 | 167 |
|
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
2000 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
| Calgary vs. Moose Jaw |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
|---|
| March 29 | Moose Jaw 4 | 5 Calgary | OT | | March 30 | Moose Jaw 3 | 6 Calgary | | April 1 | Calgary 4 | 2 Moose Jaw | | April 2 | Calgary 8 | 2 Moose Jaw | | Calgary wins series 4–0 | |
| | Kootenay vs. Red Deer |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
|---|
| March 30 | Red Deer 4 | 7 Kootenay | | March 31 | Red Deer 0 | 8 Kootenay | | April 2 | Kootenay 7 | 4 Red Deer | | April 3 | Kootenay 2 | 1 Red Deer | OT | | Kootenay wins series 4–0 | |
|
| Swift Current vs. Prince Albert |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
|---|
| March 30 | Prince Albert 3 | 2 Swift Current | | March 31 | Prince Albert 2 | 6 Swift Current | | April 2 | Swift Current 4 | 2 Prince Albert | | April 3 | Swift Current 2 | 5 Prince Albert | | April 5 | Prince Albert 3 | 6 Swift Current | | April 7 | Swift Current 4 | 3 Prince Albert | | Swift Current wins series 4–2 | |
| | Saskatoon vs. Regina |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
|---|
| March 29 | Regina 6 | 4 Saskatoon | | March 31 | Saskatoon 1 | 6 Regina | | April 1 | Regina 0 | 3 Saskatoon | | April 3 | Saskatoon 6 | 3 Regina | | April 5 | Regina 0 | 4 Saskatoon | | April 7 | Saskatoon 2 | 7 Regina | | April 8 | Regina 1 | 5 Saskatoon | | Saskatoon wins series 4–3 | |
| |
Western Conference
| Spokane vs. Tri-City |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
|---|
| March 29 | Tri-City 1 | 8 Spokane | | March 31 | Spokane 6 | 2 Tri-City | | April 1 | Spokane 3 | 2 Tri-City | | April 5 | Tri-City 0 | 2 Spokane | | Spokane wins series 4–0 | |
| | Seattle vs. Kamloops |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
|---|
| April 1 | Kamloops 2 | 5 Seattle | | April 2 | Kamloops 2 | 7 Seattle | | April 4 | Seattle 3 | 2 Kamloops | | April 5 | Seattle 5 | 2 Kamloops | | Seattle wins series 4–0 | |
|
| Prince George vs. Kelowna |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
|---|
| March 31 | Kelowna 4 | 2 Prince George | | April 1 | Kelowna 0 | 4 Prince George | | April 4 | Prince George 4 | 1 Kelowna | | April 5 | Prince George 4 | 2 Kelowna | | April 7 | Kelowna 3 | 4 Prince George | OT | | Prince George wins series 4–1 | |
| |
WHL Championship
| Kootenay vs. Spokane |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
|---|
| May 5 | Spokane 3 | 2 Kootenay |
| May 6 | Spokane 3 | 2 Kootenay |
| May 9 | Kootenay 3 | 2 Spokane |
| May 10 | Kootenay 4 | 1 Spokane |
| May 12 | Spokane 1 | 2 Kootenay |
| May 13 | Kootenay 1 | 0 Spokane |
| Kootenay wins series 4–2 | |
All-Star game
On January 19, the Eastern Conference defeated the Western Conference 10–9 at Kelowna, British Columbia before a crowd of 5,420.
WHL awards
| Four Broncos Memorial Trophy (Player of the Year): Brad Moran, Calgary Hitmen |
| Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy (Scholastic Player of the Year): Chris Nielson, Calgary Hitmen |
| Scholastic Team of the Year: Portland Winterhawks |
| Bob Clarke Trophy (Top scorer): Brad Moran, Calgary Hitmen |
| Brad Hornung Trophy (Most Sportsmanlike Player): Trent Hunter, Prince George Cougars |
| Bill Hunter Trophy (Top Defenseman): Micki Dupont, Kamloops Blazers |
| Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year): Dan Blackburn, Kootenay Ice |
| Del Wilson Trophy (Top Goaltender): Bryce Wandler, Swift Current Broncos |
| Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy (Coach of the Year): Todd McLellan, Swift Current Broncos |
| Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy (Executive of the Year): Tim Speltz, Spokane Chiefs |
| Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy (Best regular season record): Calgary Hitmen |
| Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy (Top Official): Mike Hasenfratz |
| St. Clair Group Trophy (Marketing/Public Relations Award): Mike Jenkins, Prince Albert Raiders |
| WHL Humanitarian of the Year Chris Nielson, Calgary Hitmen
|
| WHL Plus-Minus Award Kenton Smith, Calgary Hitmen
|
| WHL Playoff Most Valuable Player Dan Blackburn, Kootenay Ice
| |
All-Star Teams
See also
References
