Sports season
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.
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.
Turner Cup playoffs
[edit] | First round | | | Quarterfinals | | | Semifinals | | | Turner Cup Finals | |
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| E1 | Detroit | 3 | | | | |
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| E8 | Michigan | 1 | |
| | E1 | Detroit | 4 | |
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| | | E5 | Québec | 2 | |
| E4 | Cincinnati | 0 | |
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| E5 | Quebec | 3 | |
| | E1 | Detroit | 4 | |
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| | | E6 | Cleveland | 1 | |
| E2 | Orlando | 3 | | |
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| E7 | Grand Rapids | 2 | |
| | E2 | Orlando | 1 | |
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| | | E6 | Cleveland | 4 | |
| E3 | Indianapolis | 1 | |
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| E6 | Cleveland | 3 | |
| | E1 | Detroit | 4 | |
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| | | W1 | Long Beach | 2 | |
| W1 | Long Beach | 3 | | | |
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| W8 | Milwaukee | 0 | |
| | W1 | Long Beach | 4 | |
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| | | W4 | Utah | 0 | |
| W4 | Utah | 3 | |
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| W5 | Kansas City | 0 | |
| | W1 | Long Beach | 4 | |
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| | | W3 | Houston | 1 | |
| W2 | San Antonio | 3 | | |
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| W7 | Chicago | 1 | |
| | W2 | San Antonio | 1 | |
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| | | W3 | Houston | 4 | |
| W3 | Houston | 3 | |
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| W6 | Las Vegas | 0 | |
(E1) Detroit Vipers vs. (E8) Michigan K-Wings
[edit]
(W1) Long Beach Ice Dogs vs. (W8) Milwaukee Admirals
[edit] | Long Beach won series 3–0 | |
| | |
(E2) Orlando Solar Bears vs. (E7) Grand Rapids Griffins
[edit] | 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 28 | Grand Rapids Griffins | | 2–3 | | Orlando Solar Bears | Orlando Arena | |
(W2) San Antonio Dragons vs. (W7) Chicago Wolves
[edit] | San Antonio won series 3–1 | |
| | |
(E3) Indianapolis Ice vs. (E6) Cleveland Lumberjacks
[edit] | April 24 | Indianapolis Ice | | 1–2 | | Cleveland Lumberjacks | Gund Arena | |
| April 26 | Indianapolis Ice | | 2–3 | OT | Cleveland Lumberjacks | Gund Arena | |
(W3) Houston Aeros vs. (W6) Las Vegas Thunder
[edit] | April 19 | Las Vegas Thunder | | 2–4 | | Houston Aeros | The Summit | |
| April 20 | Las Vegas Thunder | | 2–4 | | Houston Aeros | The Summit | |
(E4) Cincinnati Cyclones vs. (E5) Québec Rafales
[edit]
(W4) Utah Grizzlies vs. (W5) Kansas City Blades
[edit] | April 21 | Kansas City Blades | | 3–4 | OT | Utah Grizzlies | Delta Center | |
(E1) Detroit Vipers vs. (E5) Québec Rafales
[edit]
(W1) Long Beach Ice Dogs vs. (W4) Utah Grizzlies
[edit] | May 9 | Long Beach Ice Dogs | | 3–2 | OT | Utah Grizzlies | Delta Center | |
| Long Beach won series 4–0 | |
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(E2) Orlando Solar Bears vs. (E6) Cleveland Lumberjacks
[edit] | 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 | |
(W2) San Antonio Dragons vs. (W3) Houston Aeros
[edit] | 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 | |
(E1) Detroit Vipers vs. (E6) Cleveland Lumberjacks
[edit] | May 22 | Detroit Vipers | | 1–3 | | Cleveland Lumberjacks | Gund Arena | |
| May 24 | Detroit Vipers | | 6–4 | | Cleveland Lumberjacks | Gund Arena | |
(W1) Long Beach Ice Dogs vs. (W3) Houston Aeros
[edit] | May 15 | Long Beach Ice Dogs | | 1–4 | | Houston Aeros | The Summit | |
| 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 | |
| | |
(E1) Detroit Vipers vs. (W1) Long Beach Ice Dogs
[edit]
| 1997 IHL awards |
| Turner Cup | Detroit Vipers |
Fred A. Huber Trophy:
(Best regular-season record) | Detroit Vipers |
Frank Gallagher Trophy:
(Eastern Conference playoff champion) | Detroit Vipers |
Ken Ullyot Trophy:
(Western Conference playoff champion) | Long Beach Ice Dogs |
| Comeback Player of the Year Award: | Kevin Smyth, Orlando Solar Bears |
Commissioner's Trophy:
(Best coach) | John Van Boxmeer, Long Beach Ice Dogs |
Gary F. Longman Memorial Trophy:
(Best first-year player) | Sergei Samsonov, Detroit Vipers |
Governor's Trophy:
(Best defenceman) | Brad Werenka, Indianapolis Ice |
I. John Snider, II Trophy:
(Leadership and humanitarian contribution) | Tim Breslin, Chicago Wolves |
Ironman Award:
(Best two-way player over 82 games) | Brad Werenka, Indianapolis Ice |
James Gatschene Memorial Trophy:
(Most valuable player, regular season) | Frédéric Chabot, Houston Aeros |
James Norris Memorial Trophy:
(Goaltenders with fewest goals allowed) | Rich Parent and Jeff Reese, Detroit Vipers |
Ken McKenzie Trophy:
(Best U.S.-born first-year player) | Brian Felsner, Orlando Solar Bears |
Leo P. Lamoureux Memorial Trophy:
(Player with most points) | Rob Brown, Chicago Wolves |
Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy:
(Most valuable player, playoffs) | Peter Ciavaglia, Detroit Vipers |
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