- Regular season Final standings Scoring leaders Goaltending leaders
- 1998 WHL Playoffs Conference quarterfinals Eastern Conference Western Conference Conference semifinals Conference finals WHL Championship
- All-Star Game
- WHL awards
- See also
- References
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 seasonFinal standingsEast Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
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x Regina Pats | 72 | 46 | 21 | 5 | 97 | 334 | 250 | x Swift Current Broncos | 72 | 44 | 19 | 9 | 97 | 276 | 220 | x Brandon Wheat Kings | 72 | 45 | 21 | 6 | 96 | 322 | 235 | x Saskatoon Blades | 72 | 25 | 39 | 8 | 58 | 263 | 327 | x Moose Jaw Warriors | 72 | 23 | 39 | 10 | 56 | 235 | 281 | Prince Albert Raiders | 72 | 20 | 47 | 5 | 45 | 222 | 288 | |
Central Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
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x Calgary Hitmen | 72 | 40 | 28 | 4 | 84 | 265 | 232 | x Lethbridge Hurricanes | 72 | 32 | 29 | 11 | 75 | 261 | 237 | x Red Deer Rebels | 72 | 27 | 40 | 5 | 59 | 281 | 323 | Edmonton Ice | 72 | 17 | 49 | 6 | 40 | 242 | 328 | Medicine Hat Tigers | 72 | 16 | 50 | 6 | 38 | 188 | 340 | |
West Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
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x Portland Winter Hawks | 72 | 53 | 14 | 5 | 111 | 342 | 203 | x Spokane Chiefs | 72 | 45 | 23 | 4 | 94 | 288 | 235 | x Prince George Cougars | 72 | 43 | 24 | 5 | 91 | 311 | 236 | x Kamloops Blazers | 72 | 37 | 32 | 3 | 77 | 234 | 253 | x Kelowna Rockets | 72 | 33 | 35 | 4 | 70 | 313 | 290 | x Seattle Thunderbirds | 72 | 31 | 35 | 6 | 68 | 286 | 278 | Tri-City Americans | 72 | 17 | 49 | 6 | 40 | 264 | 371 | |
Scoring leadersNote: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutesPlayer | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
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Sergei Varlamov | Swift Current Broncos | 72 | 66 | 53 | 119 | 132 | Cory Cyrenne | Brandon Wheat Kings | 72 | 47 | 71 | 118 | 28 | Ronald Petrovicky | Regina Pats | 71 | 64 | 49 | 113 | 178 | Shane Willis | Lethbridge Hurricanes | 64 | 58 | 54 | 112 | 73 | Quinn Hancock | Prince George Cougars | 69 | 54 | 58 | 112 | 31 | Shawn McNeil | Red Deer Rebels | 72 | 47 | 62 | 109 | 69 | Mark Smith | Lethbridge Hurricanes | 70 | 42 | 67 | 109 | 206 | Todd Robinson | Portland Winter Hawks | 71 | 35 | 74 | 109 | 55 | Jason Deleurme | Kelowna Rockets | 72 | 51 | 52 | 103 | 47 | Brad Moran | Calgary Hitmen | 72 | 53 | 49 | 102 | 64 | |
Goaltending leadersNote: GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties ; GA = Goals against; SO = Total shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against averagePlayer | Team | GP | Min | W | L | T | GA | SO | SV% | GAA |
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Brent Belecki | Portland Winter Hawks | 51 | 3052 | 35 | 10 | 5 | 131 | 2 | .918 | 2.58 | Terry Friesen | Swift Current Broncos | 44 | 2640 | 26 | 10 | 7 | 124 | 1 | .907 | 2.82 | Scott Myers | Prince George Cougars | 48 | 2823 | 29 | 13 | 4 | 139 | 2 | .900 | 2.95 | Alexandre Fomitchev | Calgary Hitmen | 60 | 3383 | 32 | 23 | 1 | 168 | 1 | .898 | 2.98 | Ryan Hoople | Lethbridge/Regina | 58 | 3266 | 34 | 18 | 4 | 164 | 4 | .899 | 3.01 | |
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
{{4RoundBracket-Byes | RD1= First Round | RD2= Division Semi-Finals | RD3= Division Finals | RD4= WHL Championship | group1= | group2= | group3= | RD1-seed01= C1 | RD1-team01= Calgary | RD1-score01= 4 | RD1-seed02= E4 | RD1-team02= Saskatoon | RD1-score02= 2 | RD1-seed03= E2 | RD1-team03= Swift Current | RD1-score03= 4 | RD1-seed04= C3 | RD1-team04= Red Deer | RD1-score04= 1 | RD1-seed05= E1 | RD1-team05= Regina | RD1-score05= 4 | RD1-seed06= E5 | RD1-team06= Moose Jaw | RD1-score06= 0 | RD1-seed07= E3 | RD1-team07= Brandon | RD1-score07= 4 | RD1-seed08= C2 | RD1-team08= Lethbridge | RD1-score08= 0 | RD1-seed09= W1 | RD1-team09= Portland | RD1-score09= 4 | RD1-seed10= W6 | RD1-team10= Seattle | RD1-score10= 1 | RD1-seed13= W2 | RD1-team13= Spokane | RD1-score13= 4 | RD1-seed14= W5 | RD1-team14= Kelowna | RD1-score14= 3 | RD1-seed15= W3 | RD1-team15= Prince George | RD1-score15= 4 | RD1-seed16= W4 | RD1-team16= Kamloops | RD1-score16= 3 | RD2-seed01= C1 | RD2-team01= Calgary | RD2-score01= 4 | RD2-seed02= E2 | RD2-team02= Swift Current | RD2-score02= 3 | RD2-seed03= E1 | RD2-team03= Regina | RD2-score03= 1 | RD2-seed04= E3 | RD2-team04= Brandon | RD2-score04= 4 | RD2-seed05= W1 | RD2-team05= Portland | RD2-score05= bye | RD2-seed07= W2 | RD2-team07= Spokane | RD2-score07= 3 | RD2-seed08= W3 | RD2-team08= Prince George | RD2-score08= 1 | RD3-seed01= C1 | RD3-team01= Calgary | RD3-score01= 1 | RD3-seed02= E3 | RD3-team02= Brandon | RD3-score02= 4 | RD3-seed03= W1 | RD3-team03= Portland | RD3-score03= 4 | RD3-seed04= W2 | RD3-team04= Spokane | RD3-score04= 3 | RD4-seed01= E3 | RD4-team01= Brandon | RD4-score01= 0 | RD4-seed02= W1 | RD4-team02= Portland | RD4-score02= 4 }}Conference quarterfinalsEastern ConferenceRegina vs. Moose Jaw | Date | Away | Home |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 ConferenceSpokane vs. Kelowna | Date | Away | Home |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 semifinalsEastern Conference | Calgary vs. Swift Current | Date | Away | Home |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 ChampionshipPortland vs. Brandon | Date | Away | Home |
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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 GameOn January 21, the Western Conference defeated the Eastern Conference 7–6 at Regina, Saskatchewan before a crowd of 6,050. WHL awardsPlayer 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- 1998 Memorial Cup
- 1998 NHL Entry Draft
- 1997 in sports
- 1998 in sports
References{{s-start}}{{succession box | before = 1996–97 WHL season | after = 1998–99 WHL season | title = WHL seasons | years = | }}{{s-end}}{{DEFAULTSORT:1997-98 WHL season}} 3 : Western Hockey League seasons|1997–98 in American ice hockey by league|1997–98 in Canadian ice hockey by league |