1997–98 IHL season

The 1997–98 IHL season was the 53rd season of the International Hockey League, a North American minor professional league. 18 teams participated in the regular season, and the Chicago Wolves won the Turner Cup. Gordie Howe came out of retirement to play one shift for the Detroit Vipers in the middle of this season.

1997-98 IHL season
LeagueInternational Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationOctober 2, 1997 – June 15, 1998
Number of games82
Number of teams18
Regular season
Fred A. Huber TrophyLong Beach Ice Dogs
Season MVPPatrice Lefebvre (Thunder)
Top scorerPatrice Lefebvre (Thunder)
Playoffs
Playoffs MVPAlexander Semak (Wolves)
Turner Cup
ChampionsChicago Wolves
  Runners-upDetroit Vipers
Seasons

Regular season edit

Eastern Conference edit

Central DivisionGPWLTOTLGFGAPts
Fort Wayne Komets82472906270243100
Cincinnati Cyclones82403001227525492
Indianapolis Ice8240360624526186
Cleveland Lumberjacks82353701022826280
Michigan K-Wings8236390722326179
Northeast DivisionGPWLTOTLGFGAPts
Detroit Vipers824720015267232109
Orlando Solar Bears82423001025825194
Grand Rapids Griffins82383101322524289
Québec Rafales8227480721129261

Western Conference edit

Midwest DivisionGPWLTOTLGFGAPts
Chicago Wolves82552403301258113
Kansas City Blades82412901226925894
Milwaukee Admirals8243340526726291
Manitoba Moose8239360726925485
Southwest DivisionGPWLTOTLGFGAPts
Long Beach Ice Dogs82532009282210115
Houston Aeros825022010268214110
Utah Grizzlies82472708276234102
Las Vegas Thunder82333901026030576
San Antonio Dragons8225490823333458

Awards edit

1998 IHL awards
Turner CupChicago Wolves
Fred A. Huber Trophy:
(Best regular-season record)
Long Beach Ice Dogs
Frank Gallagher Trophy:
(Eastern Conference playoff champion)
Detroit Vipers
Ken Ullyot Trophy:
(Western Conference playoff champion)
Chicago Wolves
Comeback Player of the Year Award:Mike Tomlak, Milwaukee Admirals
Commissioner's Trophy:
(Best coach)
John Torchetti, Fort Wayne Komets
Gary F. Longman Memorial Trophy:
(Best first-year player)
Todd White, Indianapolis Ice
Governor's Trophy:
(Best defenceman)
Dan Lambert, Long Beach Ice Dogs
I. John Snider, II Trophy:
(Leadership and humanitarian contribution)
Rod Miller, Utah Grizzlies
Ironman Award:
(Best two-way player over 82 games)
Doug Ast, Long Beach Ice Dogs
James Gatschene Memorial Trophy:
(Most valuable player, regular season)
Patrice Lefebvre, Las Vegas Thunder
James Norris Memorial Trophy:
(Goaltenders with lowest GAA)
Mike Buzak and Kay Whitmore, Long Beach Ice Dogs
Ken McKenzie Trophy:
(Best U.S.-born first-year player)
Eric Nickulas, Orlando Solar Bears
Leo P. Lamoureux Memorial Trophy:
(Player with most points)
Patrice Lefebvre, Las Vegas Thunder
Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy:
(Most valuable player, playoffs)
Alexander Semak, Chicago Wolves

Turner Cup-Playoffs edit

The banner honoring the Chicago Wolves 1998 Turner Cup Championship hanging in the Allstate Arena
Turner Cup-1/8 FinalsTurner Cup-QuarterfinalsTurner Cup-SemifinalsTurner Cup-Final
            
E1Detroit Vipers3
E8Michigan K-Wings1
E1Detroit Vipers4
E4Cincinnati Cyclones2
E4Cincinnati Cyclones3
E5Grand Rapids Griffins0
E1Detroit Vipers4
Eastern Conference
E3Orlando Solar Bears2
E3Orlando Solar Bears3
E6Indianapolis Ice2
E3Orlando Solar Bears4
E7Cleveland Lumberjacks2
E2Fort Wayne Komets1
E7Cleveland Lumberjacks3
E1Detroit Vipers3
W2Chicago Wolves4
W1Long Beach Ice Dogs3
W8Las Vegas Thunder1
W1Long Beach Ice Dogs4
W5Kansas City Blades3
W4Utah Grizzlies1
W5Kansas City Blades3
W1Long Beach Ice Dogs2
Western Conference
W2Chicago Wolves4
W2Chicago Wolves3
W7Manitoba Moose0
W2Chicago Wolves4
W6Milwaukee Admirals2
W3Houston Aeros1
W6Milwaukee Admirals3

External links edit