1996–97 WHL season

The 1996–97 WHL season was the 31st season for the Western Hockey League. Eighteen teams completed a 72 game season. The Lethbridge Hurricanes won the President's Cup.

League notes

The Edmonton Ice joined the WHL as its 18th franchise, playing in the Central Division.
The Swift Current Broncos moved to the East Division.

Regular season

Final standings

East Division	GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA
x Brandon Wheat Kings	72	47	24	1	95	339	208
x Swift Current Broncos	72	44	23	5	93	336	243
x Regina Pats	72	42	27	3	87	326	259
x Moose Jaw Warriors	72	36	29	7	79	278	240
x Prince Albert Raiders	72	29	34	9	67	235	262
Saskatoon Blades	72	18	48	6	42	227	344

Central Division	GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA
x Lethbridge Hurricanes	72	47	22	3	97	342	248
x Red Deer Rebels	72	43	26	3	89	317	297
x Medicine Hat Tigers	72	39	32	1	79	270	278
Calgary Hitmen	72	15	53	4	34	199	360
Edmonton Ice	72	14	56	2	30	231	395

West Division	GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA
x Portland Winter Hawks	72	46	21	5	97	300	196
x Seattle Thunderbirds	72	41	27	4	86	311	249
x Spokane Chiefs	72	35	33	4	74	260	235
x Kelowna Rockets	72	35	35	2	72	298	314
x Kamloops Blazers	72	28	37	7	63	256	285
x Prince George Cougars	72	28	39	5	61	238	287
Tri-City Americans	72	22	43	7	51	225	288

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes

Player	Team	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Todd Robinson	Portland Winter Hawks	71	38	96	134	53
Byron Ritchie	Lethbridge Hurricanes	63	50	76	126	86
Patrick Marleau	Seattle Thunderbirds	71	51	74	125	22
Peter Schaefer	Brandon Wheat Kings	61	49	74	123	66
B.J. Young	Red Deer Rebels	63	58	56	114	72
Josh St. Louis	Swift Current Broncos	65	57	51	108	20
Brett McLean	Kelowna Rockets	72	44	60	104	89
Kelly Smart	Brandon Wheat Kings	69	39	60	99	8
Josh Holden	Regina Pats	58	49	49	98	111
Greg Schmidt	Red Deer Rebels	66	45	53	98	97

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
Brian Elder	Brandon Wheat Kings	52	2930	32	15	0	132	2	.906	2.70
Brent Belecki	Portland Winter Hawks	27	1568	17	7	1	71	1	.909	2.72
Chris Wickenheiser	Red Deer/Portland	41	2428	24	14	3	110	3	.913	2.72
David Haun	Brandon Wheat Kings	27	1442	15	9	1	72	1	.898	3.00
Donavon Nunweiler	Moose Jaw Warriors	56	3278	27	21	5	166	6	.907	3.04

1997 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

Lethbridge vs. Prince Albert
Date	Away	Home
March 19	Prince Albert 2	4 Lethbridge
March 21	Prince Albert 1	2 Lethbridge
March 23	Lethbridge 5	4 Prince Albert
March 24	Lethbridge 5	4 Prince Albert
Lethbridge wins series 4–0

Swift Current vs. Medicine Hat
Date	Away	Home
March 18	Medicine Hat 1	8 Swift Current
March 20	Swift Current 5	1 Medicine Hat
March 22	Medicine Hat 1	5 Swift Current
March 23	Swift Current 4	2 Medicine Hat
Swift Current wins series 4–0

Brandon vs. Moose Jaw
Date	Away	Home
March 20	Moose Jaw 4	2 Brandon
March 21	Moose Jaw 4	3 Brandon
March 23	Brandon 5	4 Moose Jaw
March 24	Brandon 3	2 Moose Jaw
March 26	Moose Jaw 3	2 Brandon	OT
March 28	Brandon 2	3 Moose Jaw	OT
Moose Jaw wins series 4–2

Red Deer vs. Regina
Date	Away	Home
March 20	Regina 4	6 Red Deer
March 21	Regina 4	5 Red Deer	OT
March 23	Red Deer 6	2 Regina
March 24	Red Deer 1	5 Regina
March 26	Regina 1	5 Red Deer
Red Deer wins series 4–1

Western Conference

Portland vs. Prince George
Date	Away	Home
March 21	Prince George 2	5 Portland
March 22	Prince George 5	3 Portland
March 25	Portland 0	4 Prince George
March 26	Portland 2	4 Prince George
March 29	Prince George 1	2 Portland
March 31	Portland 2	3 Prince George
Prince George wins series 4–2

Spokane vs. Kelowna
Date	Away	Home
March 21	Spokane 5	3 Kelowna
March 22	Spokane 5	3 Kelowna
March 26	Kelowna 5	2 Spokane
March 28	Kelowna 0	4 Spokane
March 29	Kelowna 6	3 Spokane
March 31	Spokane 5	2 Kelowna
Spokane wins series 4–2

Seattle vs. Kamloops
Date	Away	Home
March 21	Kamloops 2	5 Seattle
March 23	Kamloops 3	7 Seattle
March 25	Seattle 4	1 Kamloops
March 27	Seattle 2	3 Kamloops
March 29	Kamloops 4	5 Seattle
Seattle wins series 4–1

Conference semifinals

Eastern Conference

Lethbridge vs. Moose Jaw
Date	Away	Home
March 31	Moose Jaw 2	3 Lethbridge	OT
April 1	Moose Jaw 5	4 Lethbridge	OT
April 3	Lethbridge 5	3 Moose Jaw
April 4	Lethbridge 4	5 Moose Jaw
April 6	Moose Jaw 1	5 Lethbridge
April 8	Lethbridge 5	4 Moose Jaw
Lethbridge wins series 4–2

Swift Current vs. Red Deer
Date	Away	Home
March 31	Red Deer 5	2 Swift Current
April 1	Red Deer 5	3 Swift Current
April 3	Swift Current 2	4 Red Deer
April 4	Swift Current 3	2 Red Deer	OT
April 6	Red Deer 2	11 Swift Current
April 8	Swift Current 2	6 Red Deer
Red Deer wins series 4–2

Western Conference

Spokane vs. Prince George
Date	Away	Home
April 4	Prince George 5	4 Spokane	OT
April 5	Prince George 4	2 Spokane
April 7	Spokane 1	2 Prince George
Prince George wins series 3–0

Seattle earns bye

Conference finals

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

Lethbridge vs. Red Deer
Date	Away	Home
April 12	Red Deer 2	3 Lethbridge	OT
April 13	Red Deer 7	4 Lethbridge
April 15	Lethbridge 5	3 Red Deer
April 16	Lethbridge 6	4 Red Deer
April 18	Red Deer 2	5 Lethbridge
Lethbridge wins series 4–1

Seattle vs. Prince George
Date	Away	Home
April 10	Prince George 3	2 Seattle	2OT
April 11	Prince George 1	4 Seattle
April 14	Seattle 5	2 Prince George
April 15	Seattle 3	4 Prince George
April 18	Prince George 1	4 Seattle
April 20	Seattle 6	1 Prince George
Seattle wins series 4–2

WHL Championship

Lethbridge vs. Seattle
Date	Away	Home
April 25	Seattle 2	7 Lethbridge
April 26	Seattle 1	4 Lethbridge
April 29	Lethbridge 3	1 Seattle
April 30	Lethbridge 5	1 Seattle
Lethbridge wins series 4–0