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 Phoenix Roadrunners competed for fans. 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, low attendance, even though on weekends and holidays did very well, 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 (E1) Detroit Vipers vs. (E8) Michigan K-Wings
(W1) Long Beach Ice Dogs vs. (W8) Milwaukee Admirals
(E2) Orlando Solar Bears vs. (E7) Grand Rapids Griffins
(W2) San Antonio Dragons vs. (W7) Chicago Wolves
(E3) Indianapolis Ice vs. (E6) Cleveland Lumberjacks
(W3) Houston Aeros vs. (W6) Las Vegas Thunder
(E4) Cincinnati Cyclones vs. (E5) Québec Rafales
(W4) Utah Grizzlies vs. (W5) Kansas City Blades
Quarterfinals (E1) Detroit Vipers vs. (E5) Quebec Rafales
(W1) Long Beach Ice Dogs vs. (W4) Utah Grizzlies
(E2) Orlando Solar Bears vs. (E6) Cleveland Lumberjacks
(W2) San Antonio Dragons vs. (W3) Houston Aeros
Semifinals (E1) Detroit Vipers vs. (E6) Cleveland Lumberjacks
(W1) Long Beach Ice Dogs vs. (W3) Houston Aeros
Turner Cup Finals (E1) Detroit Vipers vs. (W1) Long Beach Ice Dogs
Awards
1997 IHL awardsTurner Cup Detroit VipersFred A. Huber Trophy:(Best regular-season record) Detroit VipersFrank Gallagher Trophy:(Eastern Conference playoff champion) Detroit VipersKen Ullyot Trophy: (Western Conference playoff champion) Long Beach Ice DogsComeback Player of the Year Award: Kevin Smyth, Orlando Solar BearsCommissioner's Trophy:(Best coach) John Van Boxmeer, Long Beach Ice DogsGary F. Longman Memorial Trophy:(Best first-year player) Sergei Samsonov, Detroit VipersGovernor's Trophy:(Best defenceman) Brad Werenka, Indianapolis IceI. John Snider, II Trophy:(Leadership and humanitarian contribution) Tim Breslin, Chicago WolvesIronman Award:(Best two-way player over 82 games) Brad Werenka, Indianapolis IceJames Gatschene Memorial Trophy:(Most valuable player, regular season) Frederic Chabot, Houston AerosJames Norris Memorial Trophy:(Goaltenders with fewest goals allowed) Rich Parent and Jeff Reese, Detroit VipersKen McKenzie Trophy:(Best U.S.-born first-year player) Brian Felsner, Orlando Solar BearsLeo P. Lamoureux Memorial Trophy:(Player with most points) Rob Brown, Chicago WolvesNorman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy:(Most valuable player, playoffs) Peter Ciavaglia, Detroit Vipers
References
Bibliography
External links Season 1996/97 on hockeydb.com