The 1995–96 WHL season was the 30th season for the Western Hockey League (WHL). Seventeen teams completed a 72-game season. The Brandon Wheat Kings won the President's Cup.

League notes

  • The Calgary Hitmen joined the WHL as its 17th franchise, playing in the Central division.
  • The Tacoma Rockets relocated to Kelowna, British Columbia to become the Kelowna Rockets.
  • The WHL divided into three divisions: The East and Central divisions formed the Eastern Conference, and consisted of five teams per division. The West division was made up of the seven B.C. and U.S.-based teams.
  • The playoff format was changed so that the top eight teams in the Eastern Conference and the top six in the West division qualified. The 14 playoff qualifiers all played best-of-seven series in the first round. The East semifinals were best-of-seven affairs, while the highest remaining seed in the West earned a bye. The remaining two West teams played a best of five series. Conference and League final series were best of seven.
  • The Spokane Chiefs became the first team in WHL history to win a seven-game playoff series after being down 3 games to 0 against the Portland Winter Hawks.

Regular season

Final standings

East Division GP W L T Pts GF GA
x Brandon Wheat Kings7252191105369231
x Prince Albert Raiders7247196100309250
x Regina Pats723733276316284
x Saskatoon Blades722942159314351
Moose Jaw Warriors721849541223331
Central Division GP W L T Pts GF GA
x Swift Current Broncos723631577285271
x Lethbridge Hurricanes723336369259270
x Medicine Hat Tigers723037565243288
x Red Deer Rebels722839561263300
Calgary Hitmen721851339222359
West Division GP W L T Pts GF GA
x Spokane Chiefs7250184104322221
x Kamloops Blazers724822298343257
x Tri-City Americans724525292336255
x Kelowna Rockets723533474338309
x Seattle Thunderbirds722936765255281
x Portland Winter Hawks723039363283301
Prince George Cougars721753236219340

Scoring leaders

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

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Mark DeyellSaskatoon Blades696198159122
Frank BanhamSaskatoon Blades728369152116
Hnat DomenichelliKamloops Blazers62598914837
Jarome IginlaKamloops Blazers636373136120
Robb GordonKelowna Rockets58516311484
Josh HoldenRegina Pats705755112105
Mike LeclercBrandon Wheat Kings715853111161
Clarke WilmSaskatoon Blades72496111083
Peter SchaeferBrandon Wheat Kings69476110853
Marty FlichelKelowna Rockets692879107107

1996 WHL Playoffs

First round Division Semi-Finals Division Finals WHL Championship
            
E1 Brandon 4
E4 Saskatoon 0
E1 Brandon 4
C4 Red Deer 0
C1 Swift Current 2
C4 Red Deer 4
E1 Brandon 4
E2 Prince Albert 2
E2 Prince Albert 4
C3 Medicine Hat 1
E2 Prince Albert 4
E3 Regina 3
E3 Regina 4
C2 Lethbridge 0
E1 Brandon 4
W1 Spokane 1
W1 Spokane 4
W6 Portland 3
W1 Spokane bye
 
W1 Spokane 4
W2 Kamloops 2
W2 Kamloops 4
W5 Seattle 1
W2 Kamloops 3
W3 Tri-City 2
W3 Tri-City 4
W4 Kelowna 2

All-Star game

On January 23, the Eastern Conference defeated the Western Conference 10–7 at Prince George, British Columbia before a crowd of 5,992.

Awards

Player of the Year - Four Broncos Memorial Trophy: Jarome Iginla, Kamloops Blazers
Scholastic Player of the Year - Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy: Bryce Salvador, Lethbridge Hurricanes
Top Scorer - Bob Clarke Trophy: Mark Deyell, Saskatoon Blades
Most Sportsmanlike Player - Brad Hornung Trophy: Hnat Domenichelli, Kamloops Blazers
Top Defenseman - Bill Hunter Trophy: Nolan Baumgartner, Kamloops Blazers
Rookie of the Year - Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy: Chris Phillips, Prince Albert Raiders
Top Goaltender - Del Wilson Trophy: David Lemamowicz, Spokane Chiefs
Coach of the Year - Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy: Bob Lowes, Brandon Wheat Kings
Executive of the Year - Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy: Tim Speltz, Spokane Chiefs
Regular season champions - Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy: Brandon Wheat Kings
Top Official - Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy: Lonnie Cameron
Marketing/Public Relations Award - St. Clair Group Trophy: Dave Pier, Spokane Chiefs
Humanitarian of the Year - Darryl Laplante, Moose Jaw Warriors
WHL Plus-Minus Award: Hugh Hamilton, Spokane Chiefs
Playoff Most Valuable Player - airBC Trophy: Bobby Brown, Brandon Wheat Kings

All-Star Teams

Eastern Conference
First TeamSecond Team
GoalChad MercierRegina PatsTerry FriesenSwift Current Broncos
DefenseWade ReddenBrandon Wheat KingsChad AllanSaskatoon Blades
Craig MillarSwift Current BroncosJustin KurtzBrandon Wheat Kings
ForwardFrank BanhamSaskatoon BladesCurtis BrownPrince Albert Raiders
Mark DeyellSaskatoon BladesMike LeclercBrandon Wheat Kings
Peter SchaeferBrandon Wheat KingsByron RitchieLethbridge Hurricanes
Western Conference
First TeamSecond Team
GoalDavid LemanowiczSpokane ChiefsBrian BoucherTri-City Americans
DefenseNolan BaumgartnerKamloops BlazersSean GillamSpokane Chiefs
Jason HollandKamloops BlazersSheldon SourayKelowna Rockets
ForwardJarome IginlaKamloops BlazersDaymond LangkowTri-City Americans
Hnat DomenichelliKamloops BlazersJaroslav SvejkovskyTri-City Americans
Robb GordonKelowna RocketsJason Podollan (tied)Spokane Chiefs
-Richard Zedník (tied)Portland Winter Hawks

See also

References

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