| 1996-97 IHL season | |
|---|---|
| League | International Hockey League |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Duration | October 4, 1996 – June 15, 1997 |
| Number of games | 82 |
| Number of teams | 19 |
| Regular season | |
| Fred A. Huber Trophy | Detroit Vipers |
| Season MVP | Frédéric Chabot (Aeros) |
| Top scorer | Rob Brown (Wolves) |
| Playoffs | |
| Playoffs MVP | Peter Ciavaglia (Vipers) |
| Turner Cup | |
| Champions | Detroit Vipers |
| Runners-up | Long Beach Ice Dogs |
The 1996–97 IHL season was the 52nd season of the International Hockey League, a North American minor professional league. 19 teams participated in the regular season, and the Detroit Vipers won the Turner Cup.
Offseason
The Atlanta Knights relocated to Quebec to become the Quebec Rafales due to the Omni being demolished to make room for Philips Arena.
The Peoria Rivermen organization left the IHL and joined the ECHL. The IHL franchise relocated to San Antonio to become the San Antonio Dragons.
After the Winnipeg Jets relocation to Phoenix to become the Phoenix Coyotes. The Minnesota Moose were purchased by a group by Canadian businessmen and relocated to Winnipeg, Manitoba to become the Manitoba Moose to provide a new tenant at Winnipeg Arena and keeping pro hockey in the city.
The Los Angeles Ice Dogs relocated to Long Beach retaining the same name due to poor attendance.
The San Francisco Spiders folded due to bankruptcy, poor attendance and issues with Cow Palace.
Regular season
Eastern Conference
| Central | GP | W | L | SOL | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis Ice | 82 | 44 | 29 | 9 | 289 | 230 | 97 |
| Cleveland Lumberjacks | 82 | 40 | 32 | 10 | 286 | 280 | 90 |
| Michigan K-Wings | 82 | 31 | 44 | 7 | 208 | 272 | 69 |
| Fort Wayne Komets | 82 | 28 | 47 | 7 | 223 | 318 | 63 |
| North | GP | W | L | SOL | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Vipers | 82 | 57 | 17 | 8 | 280 | 188 | 122 |
| Orlando Solar Bears | 82 | 53 | 24 | 5 | 305 | 232 | 111 |
| Cincinnati Cyclones | 82 | 43 | 29 | 10 | 254 | 248 | 96 |
| Québec Rafales | 82 | 41 | 30 | 11 | 267 | 248 | 93 |
| Grand Rapids Griffins | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 244 | 246 | 92 |
Western Conference
| Midwest | GP | W | L | SOL | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Antonio Dragons | 82 | 45 | 30 | 7 | 276 | 278 | 97 |
| Kansas City Blades | 82 | 38 | 29 | 15 | 271 | 270 | 91 |
| Chicago Wolves | 82 | 40 | 36 | 6 | 276 | 290 | 86 |
| Milwaukee Admirals | 82 | 38 | 36 | 8 | 253 | 298 | 84 |
| Manitoba Moose | 82 | 32 | 40 | 10 | 262 | 300 | 74 |
| South | GP | W | L | SOL | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long Beach Ice Dogs | 82 | 54 | 19 | 9 | 309 | 247 | 117 |
| Houston Aeros | 82 | 44 | 30 | 8 | 247 | 228 | 96 |
| Utah Grizzlies | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 259 | 254 | 92 |
| Las Vegas Thunder | 82 | 41 | 34 | 7 | 287 | 299 | 89 |
| Phoenix Roadrunners | 82 | 27 | 42 | 13 | 239 | 309 | 67 |
Turner Cup playoffs
| First round | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Turner Cup Finals | ||||||||||||||||
| E1 | Detroit | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| E8 | Michigan | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| E1 | Detroit | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E5 | Québec | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| E4 | Cincinnati | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| E5 | Quebec | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| E1 | Detroit | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E6 | Cleveland | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| E2 | Orlando | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| E7 | Grand Rapids | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| E2 | Orlando | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| E6 | Cleveland | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E3 | Indianapolis | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| E6 | Cleveland | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| E1 | Detroit | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W1 | Long Beach | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| W1 | Long Beach | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| W8 | Milwaukee | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| W1 | Long Beach | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W4 | Utah | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| W4 | Utah | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| W5 | Kansas City | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| W1 | Long Beach | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W3 | Houston | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| W2 | San Antonio | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| W7 | Chicago | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| W2 | San Antonio | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| W3 | Houston | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W3 | Houston | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| W6 | Las Vegas | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
First round
(E1) Detroit Vipers vs. (E8) Michigan K-Wings
| April 17 | Michigan K-Wings | 4–3 | Detroit Vipers | The Palace of Auburn Hills | ||||
| April 21 | Michigan K-Wings | 1–4 | Detroit Vipers | The Palace of Auburn Hills | ||||
| April 25 | Detroit Vipers | 4–3 | OT | Michigan K-Wings | Wings Stadium | |||
| April 26 | Detroit Vipers | 4–1 | Michigan K-Wings | Wings Stadium | ||||
| Detroit won series 3–1 | |
(W1) Long Beach Ice Dogs vs. (W8) Milwaukee Admirals
| April 18 | Milwaukee Admirals | 5–6 | Long Beach Ice Dogs | Long Beach Sports Arena | ||||
| April 20 | Milwaukee Admirals | 3–4 | OT | Long Beach Ice Dogs | Long Beach Sports Arena | |||
| April 25 | Long Beach Ice Dogs | 1–0 | OT | Milwaukee Admirals | Bradley Center | |||
| Long Beach won series 3–0 | |
(E2) Orlando Solar Bears vs. (E7) Grand Rapids Griffins
| April 17 | Grand Rapids Griffins | 3–1 | Orlando Solar Bears | Orlando Arena | ||||
| April 21 | Grand Rapids Griffins | 5–4 | OT | Orlando Solar Bears | Orlando Arena | |||
| April 23 | Orlando Solar Bears | 4–1 | Grand Rapids Griffins | Van Andel Arena | ||||
| April 26 | Orlando Solar Bears | 2–1 | Grand Rapids Griffins | Van Andel Arena | ||||
| April 28 | Grand Rapids Griffins | 2–3 | Orlando Solar Bears | Orlando Arena | ||||
| Orlando won series 3–2 | |
(W2) San Antonio Dragons vs. (W7) Chicago Wolves
| April 18 | Chicago Wolves | 3–5 | San Antonio Dragons | Freeman Coliseum | ||||
| April 20 | Chicago Wolves | 4–3 | OT | San Antonio Dragons | Freeman Coliseum | |||
| April 23 | San Antonio Dragons | 3–2 | Chicago Wolves | Rosemont Horizon | ||||
| April 24 | San Antonio Dragons | 3–2 | OT | Chicago Wolves | Rosemont Horizon | |||
| San Antonio won series 3–1 | |
(E3) Indianapolis Ice vs. (E6) Cleveland Lumberjacks
| April 18 | Cleveland Lumberjacks | 3–6 | Indianapolis Ice | Pepsi Coliseum | ||||
| April 19 | Cleveland Lumberjacks | 6–3 | Indianapolis Ice | Pepsi Coliseum | ||||
| April 24 | Indianapolis Ice | 1–2 | Cleveland Lumberjacks | Gund Arena | ||||
| April 26 | Indianapolis Ice | 2–3 | OT | Cleveland Lumberjacks | Gund Arena | |||
| Cleveland won series 3–1 | |
(W3) Houston Aeros vs. (W6) Las Vegas Thunder
| April 19 | Las Vegas Thunder | 2–4 | Houston Aeros | The Summit | ||||
| April 20 | Las Vegas Thunder | 2–4 | Houston Aeros | The Summit | ||||
| April 25 | Houston Aeros | 1–0 | Las Vegas Thunder | Thomas & Mack Center | ||||
| Houston won series 3–0 | |
(E4) Cincinnati Cyclones vs. (E5) Québec Rafales
| April 18 | Québec Rafales | 2–1 | Cincinnati Cyclones | Riverfront Coliseum | ||||
| April 19 | Québec Rafales | 7–3 | Cincinnati Cyclones | Riverfront Coliseum | ||||
| April 25 | Cincinnati Cyclones | 3–4 | Québec Rafales | Colisée de Québec | ||||
| Québec won series 3–0 | |
(W4) Utah Grizzlies vs. (W5) Kansas City Blades
| April 18 | Kansas City Blades | 0–2 | Utah Grizzlies | Delta Center | ||||
| April 21 | Kansas City Blades | 3–4 | OT | Utah Grizzlies | Delta Center | |||
| April 24 | Utah Grizzlies | 6–2 | Kansas City Blades | Kemper Arena | ||||
| Utah won series 3–0 | |
Quarterfinals
(E1) Detroit Vipers vs. (E5) Québec Rafales
| May 1 | Québec Rafales | 1–3 | Detroit Vipers | The Palace of Auburn Hills | ||||
| May 3 | Québec Rafales | 3–1 | Detroit Vipers | The Palace of Auburn Hills | ||||
| May 7 | Detroit Vipers | 2–1 | Québec Rafales | Colisée de Québec | ||||
| May 9 | Detroit Vipers | 6–3 | Québec Rafales | Colisée de Québec | ||||
| May 10 | Detroit Vipers | 2–6 | Québec Rafales | Colisée de Québec | ||||
| May 12 | Québec Rafales | 0–3 | Detroit Vipers | The Palace of Auburn Hills | ||||
| Detroit won series 4–2 | |
(W1) Long Beach Ice Dogs vs. (W4) Utah Grizzlies
| May 2 | Utah Grizzlies | 1–2 | Long Beach Ice Dogs | Long Beach Sports Arena | ||||
| May 4 | Utah Grizzlies | 1–4 | Long Beach Ice Dogs | Long Beach Sports Arena | ||||
| May 7 | Long Beach Ice Dogs | 4–1 | Utah Grizzlies | Delta Center | ||||
| May 9 | Long Beach Ice Dogs | 3–2 | OT | Utah Grizzlies | Delta Center | |||
| Long Beach won series 4–0 | |
(E2) Orlando Solar Bears vs. (E6) Cleveland Lumberjacks
| May 2 | Cleveland Lumberjacks | 5–4 | Orlando Solar Bears | Orlando Arena | ||||
| May 3 | Cleveland Lumberjacks | 3–2 | OT | Orlando Solar Bears | Orlando Arena | |||
| May 7 | Orlando Solar Bears | 3–5 | Cleveland Lumberjacks | Gund Arena | ||||
| May 10 | Orlando Solar Bears | 3–2 | Cleveland Lumberjacks | Gund Arena | ||||
| May 11 | Orlando Solar Bears | 4–6 | Cleveland Lumberjacks | Gund Arena | ||||
| Cleveland won series 4–1 | |
(W2) San Antonio Dragons vs. (W3) Houston Aeros
| May 2 | Houston Aeros | 4–0 | San Antonio Dragons | Freeman Coliseum | ||||
| May 3 | Houston Aeros | 4–3 | OT | San Antonio Dragons | Freeman Coliseum | |||
| May 6 | San Antonio Dragons | 2–5 | Houston Aeros | The Summit | ||||
| May 9 | San Antonio Dragons | 2–1 | Houston Aeros | The Summit | ||||
| May 10 | San Antonio Dragons | 3–4 | Houston Aeros | The Summit | ||||
| Houston won series 4–1 | |
Semifinals
(E1) Detroit Vipers vs. (E6) Cleveland Lumberjacks
| May 16 | Cleveland Lumberjacks | 2–4 | Detroit Vipers | The Palace of Auburn Hills | ||||
| May 18 | Cleveland Lumberjacks | 1–4 | Detroit Vipers | The Palace of Auburn Hills | ||||
| May 22 | Detroit Vipers | 1–3 | Cleveland Lumberjacks | Gund Arena | ||||
| May 24 | Detroit Vipers | 6–4 | Cleveland Lumberjacks | Gund Arena | ||||
| May 25 | Cleveland Lumberjacks | 1–3 | Detroit Vipers | The Palace of Auburn Hills | ||||
| Detroit won series 4–1 | |
(W1) Long Beach Ice Dogs vs. (W3) Houston Aeros
| May 15 | Long Beach Ice Dogs | 1–4 | Houston Aeros | The Summit | ||||
| May 18 | Houston Aeros | 3–5 | Long Beach Ice Dogs | Long Beach Sports Arena | ||||
| May 19 | Houston Aeros | 2–5 | Long Beach Ice Dogs | Long Beach Sports Arena | ||||
| May 21 | Long Beach Ice Dogs | 5–3 | Houston Aeros | The Summit | ||||
| May 22 | Long Beach Ice Dogs | 4–2 | Houston Aeros | The Summit | ||||
| Long Beach won series 4–1 | |
Turner Cup Finals
(E1) Detroit Vipers vs. (W1) Long Beach Ice Dogs
| May 30 | Long Beach Ice Dogs | 3–5 | Detroit Vipers | The Palace of Auburn Hills | ||||
| June 1 | Long Beach Ice Dogs | 3–0 | Detroit Vipers | The Palace of Auburn Hills | ||||
| June 9 | Detroit Vipers | 5–1 | Long Beach Ice Dogs | Long Beach Sports Arena | ||||
| June 11 | Detroit Vipers | 3–1 | Long Beach Ice Dogs | Long Beach Sports Arena | ||||
| June 13 | Detroit Vipers | 1–2 | OT | Long Beach Ice Dogs | Long Beach Sports Arena | |||
| June 15 | Long Beach Ice Dogs | 0–2 | Detroit Vipers | The Palace of Auburn Hills | ||||
| Detroit won series 4–2 | |
Awards
References
- Bibliography
- Diamond, Dan, ed. (2000). Total Hockey. Total Sports. ISBN 1-892129-85-X.
External links
- Season 1996/97 on hockeydb.com
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