1997–98 WHL season
The 1997–98 WHL season was the 32nd season for the Western Hockey League. Eighteen teams completed a 72 game season. The Portland Winter Hawks won the President's Cup before going on to win the Memorial Cup.
Regular season
Final standings
Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes
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
WHL Playoffs
Conference quarterfinals
- 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
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 |
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.
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 |
Humanitarian of the Year - Jesse Wallin, Red Deer Rebels |
WHL Plus-Minus Award: Andrew Ference, Portland Winter Hawks |
Playoff Most Valuable Player - airBC Trophy: Brent Belecki, Portland Winter Hawks |
See also
References
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