1997–98 WHL season
The 1997–98 WHL season was the 32nd season for the Western Hockey League (WHL). Eighteen teams completed a 72-game season. The Portland Winter Hawks won the President's Cup before going on to win the 1998 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
1998 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