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

Top eight teams in the Eastern Conference qualified for playoffs
Top six teams in the Western Conference qualified for the playoffs
Conference Quarterfinals

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

Conference semifinals

Conference finals

WHL Championship

All-Star game

On January 22, the Western Conference defeated the Eastern Conference 7–5 at Spokane, Washington before a WHL record crowd of 10,455.

WHL awards

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