1998–99 WHL season

The 1998–99 WHL season was the 33rd season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The season featured eighteen teams and a 72-game season. The Calgary Hitmen won both the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy for posting the best regular season record and the President's Cup as playoff champions, both for the first time in team history. They thus earned a berth in the 1999 Memorial Cup tournament, where they lost the final to the Ottawa 67's.

1998–99 WHL season
LeagueWestern Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Number of teams18
Regular season
Scotty Munro Memorial TrophyCalgary Hitmen (1)
Season MVPCody Rudkowsky (Seattle Thunderbirds)
Top scorerPavel Brendl (Calgary Hitmen)
Playoffs
Playoffs MVPBrad Moran (Hitmen)
Finals championsCalgary Hitmen (1)
  Runners-upKamloops Blazers
1998–99 CHL season
LeagueCanadian Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Number of teams53
OHL
QMJHL
WHL
Memorial Cup
Finals championsOttawa 67's (OHL) (2nd title)
  Runners-upCalgary Hitmen (WHL)

Prior to the season, the Edmonton Ice relocated to Cranbrook, British Columbia and became the Kootenay Ice.

Regular season

Final standings
East Division GP W L T Pts GF GA
x Prince Albert Raiders724522595288213
x Brandon Wheat Kings723929482293267
x Moose Jaw Warriors723931280292262
x Swift Current Broncos723432674232211
Regina Pats722443553238312
Saskatoon Blades721649739184291
Central Division GP W L T Pts GF GA
x Calgary Hitmen7251138110319187
x Red Deer Rebels723433573274250
x Lethbridge Hurricanes723132971224215
x Kootenay Ice723035767245276
Medicine Hat Tigers721556131185323
West Division GP W L T Pts GF GA
x Kamloops Blazers72481113109298195
x Tri-City Americans724323692311219
x Seattle Thunderbirds7237241185279236
x Prince George Cougars723432674255264
x Portland Winter Hawks7223361359215278
x Kelowna Rockets722542555241282
Spokane Chiefs721944947193268

Scoring leaders

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

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Pavel BrendlCalgary Hitmen68736113440
Brad MoranCalgary Hitmen71605811896
Dylan GyoriTri-City Americans695365118112
Chad HinzMoose Jaw Warriors71427511740
Scott GomezTri-City Americans58307810855
Shawn McNeilRed Deer Rebels72445910387
Brett McLeanKelowna/Brandon65475410166
Bret DeCeccoSeattle Thunderbirds72574310081
Ryan RobsonBrandon Wheat Kings7233619435
Oleg SaprykinSeattle Thunderbirds66474693107

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
Kenric ExnerKamloops Blazers51296734681145.9122.31
Bryce WandlerSwift Current Broncos512885232041233.9052.56
Alexander FomichevCalgary Hitmen573321391071424.9012.57
Evan LindsayPrince Albert Raiders563336341651581.9052.84
Cody RudkowskySeattle Thunderbirds6436703417101777.9202.89

1999 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
First round Division Semi-Finals Division Finals WHL Championship
            
C1 Calgary 4
C4 Kootenay 3
C1 Calgary 4
C2 Red Deer 0
E2 Brandon 1
C2 Red Deer 4
C1 Calgary 4
E1 Prince Albert 1
E1 Prince Albert 4
C3 Lethbridge 0
E1 Prince Albert 4
E3 Moose Jaw 1
E3 Moose Jaw 4
E4 Swift Current 2
C1 Calgary 4
W1 Kamloops 1
W1 Kamloops 4
W6 Kelowna 2
W1 Kamloops bye
 
W1 Kamloops 4
W2 Tri-City 0
W2 Tri-City 4
W5 Portland 0
W2 Tri-City 3
W3 Seattle 1
W3 Seattle 4
W4 Prince George 3

Eastern Conference
Calgary vs. Kootenay
DateAwayHome
March 24Kootenay 57 Calgary
March 26Calgary 36 Kootenay
March 27Calgary 45 KootenayOT
March 29Kootenay 25 Calgary
March 31Kootenay 23 Calgary
April 1Calgary 34 Kootenay
April 2Kootenay 38 Calgary
Calgary wins series 4–3
Prince Albert vs. Lethbridge
DateAwayHome
March 24Lethbridge 17 Prince Albert
March 26Lethbridge 23 Prince Albert
March 27Prince Albert 112 Lethbridge
March 29Prince Albert 41 Lethbridge
Prince Albert wins series 4–0
Moose Jaw vs. Swift Current
DateAwayHome
March 25Swift Current 23 Moose Jaw
March 26Swift Current 24 Moose Jaw
March 28Moose Jaw 34 Swift CurrentOT
March 30Moose Jaw 53 Swift Current
March 31Swift Current 20 Moose Jaw
April 2Moose Jaw 32 Swift Current
Moose Jaw wins series 4–2
Red Deer vs. Brandon
DateAwayHome
March 24Red Deer 52 Brandon
March 25Red Deer 51 Brandon
March 27Brandon 59 Red Deer
March 28Brandon 43 Red Deer
March 30Red Deer 73 Brandon
Red Deer wins series 4–1

Western Conference
Kamloops vs. Kelowna
DateAwayHome
March 25Kelowna 02 Kamloops
March 36Kelowna 13 Kamloops
March 30Kamloops 13 Kelowna
April 1Kamloops 31 Kelowna
April 3Kelowna 43 Kamloops
April 4Kamloops 32 Kelowna
Kamloops wins series 4–2
Tri-City vs. Portland
DateAwayHome
March 26Portland 34 Tri-CityOT
March 27Portland 26 Tri-City
March 31Tri-City 32 PortlandOT
April 2Tri-City 62 Portland
Tri-City wins series 4–0
Seattle vs. Prince George
DateAwayHome
March 27Prince George 25 Seattle
March 28Prince George 13 Seattle
March 30Seattle 45 Prince George
March 31Seattle 32 Prince George
April 3Prince George 31 Seattle
April 5Seattle 14 Prince George
April 7Prince George 06 Seattle
Seattle wins series 4–3

Conference semifinals
Eastern Conference
Calgary vs. Red Deer
DateAwayHome
April 5Red Deer 36 Calgary
April 6Calgary 43 Red DeerOT
April 8Red Deer 24 Calgary
April 9Calgary 31 Red Deer
Calgary wins series 4–0
Prince Albert vs. Moose Jaw
DateAwayHome
April 5Moose Jaw 15 Prince Albert
April 6Moose Jaw 25 Prince Albert
April 8Prince Albert 60 Moose Jaw
April 9Prince Albert 34 Moose Jaw
April 11Moose Jaw 38 Prince Albert
Prince Albert wins series 4–1
Western Conference
Tri-City vs. Seattle
DateAwayHome
April 9Seattle 43 Tri-City
April 10Seattle 06 Tri-City
April 12Tri-City 40 Seattle
April 13Tri-City 42 Seattle
Tri-City wins series 3–1
Kamloops earns bye

Conference finals
Eastern ConferenceWestern Conference
Calgary vs. Prince Albert
DateAwayHome
April 16Prince Albert 37 Calgary
April 18Prince Albert 45 CalgaryOT
April 20Calgary 56 Prince Albert
April 22Calgary 71 Prince Albert
April 24Prince Albert 26 Calgary
Calgary wins series 4–1
Kamloops vs. Tri-City
DateAwayHome
April 17Tri-City 34 Kamloops
April 18Tri-City 06 Kamloops
April 21Kamloops 32 Tri-CityOT
April 22Kamloops 43 Tri-City
Kamloops wins series 4–0

WHL Championship
Calgary vs. Kamloops
DateAwayHome
April 30Kamloops 42 Calgary
May 2Kamloops 04 Calgary
May 4Calgary 42 Kamloops
May 5Calgary 43 Kamloops2OT
May 7Kamloops 25 Calgary
Calgary wins series 4–1

All-Star game

On January 20, the Western Conference defeated the Eastern Conference 11–9 at Lethbridge, Alberta before a crowd of 5,071.

WHL awards
Player of the Year - Four Broncos Memorial Trophy: Cody Rudkowsky, Seattle Thunderbirds
Scholastic Player of the Year - Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy: Chris Nielson, Calgary Hitmen
Top Scorer - Bob Clarke Trophy: Pavel Brendl, Calgary Hitmen
Most Sportsmanlike Player - Brad Hornung Trophy: Matt Kinch, Calgary Hitmen
Top Defenseman - Bill Hunter Trophy: Brad Stuart, Calgary Hitmen
Rookie of the Year - Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy: Pavel Brendl, Calgary Hitmen
Top Goaltender - Del Wilson Trophy: Cody Rudkowsky, Seattle Thunderbirds
Coach of the Year - Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy: Don Hay, Tri-City Americans
Executive of the Year - Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy: Don Hay, Tri-City Americans
Regular season champions - Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy: Calgary Hitmen
Top Official - Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy: Kelly Sutherland
Marketing/Public Relations Award - St. Clair Group Trophy: Scott Clark, Regina Pats
WHL Humanitarian of the Year: Andrew Ference, Portland Winter Hawks
WHL Plus-Minus Award: Pavel Brendl, Calgary Hitmen
WHL Playoff Most Valuable Player: Brad Moran, Calgary Hitmen

All-Star Teams
Eastern Conference
First TeamSecond Team
GoalAlexander FomichevCalgary HitmenEvan LindsayPrince Albert Raiders
DefenseBrad StuartCalgary HitmenKurt DrummondSwift Current Broncos
Matt KinchCalgary HitmenBurke HenryBrandon Wheat Kings
ForwardPavel BrendlCalgary HitmenBrad LeebRed Deer Rebels
Brad MoranCalgary HitmenJamie LundmarkMoose Jaw Warriors
Chad HinzMoose Jaw WarriorsBrett LysakRegina Pats
Western Conference
First TeamSecond Team
GoalCody RudkowskySeattle ThunderbirdsKenric ExnerKamloops Blazers
DefenseRobyn RegehrKamloops BlazersAndrew FerencePortland Winter Hawks
Scott HannanKelowna RocketsGarry ToorPrince George Cougars
ForwardScott GomezTri-City AmericansAjay BainesKamloops Blazers
Dylan GyoriTri-City AmericansBret DeCeccoSeattle Thunderbirds
Brenden MorrowPortland Winter HawksOleg SaprykinSeattle Thunderbirds

See also

References
  • 2005–06 WHL Guide
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