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1996–97 IHL season

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1996-97 IHL season
LeagueInternational Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationOctober 4, 1996 – June 15, 1997
Number of games82
Number of teams19
Regular season
Fred A. Huber TrophyDetroit Vipers
Season MVPFrédéric Chabot (Aeros)
Top scorerRob Brown (Wolves)
Playoffs
Playoffs MVPPeter Ciavaglia (Vipers)
Turner Cup
ChampionsDetroit Vipers
  Runners-upLong Beach Ice Dogs
Seasons

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

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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

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North Division
Central Division
Midwest Division
South Division

Eastern Conference

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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

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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

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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

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(E1) Detroit Vipers vs. (E8) Michigan K-Wings

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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(E1) Detroit Vipers vs. (E5) Québec Rafales

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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

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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

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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

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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

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(E1) Detroit Vipers vs. (E6) Cleveland Lumberjacks

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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

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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

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(E1) Detroit Vipers vs. (W1) Long Beach Ice Dogs

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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

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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

References

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Bibliography
  • Diamond, Dan, ed. (2000). Total Hockey. Total Sports. ISBN 1-892129-85-X.
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