The 1995–96 WHL season was the 30th season of the Western Hockey League (WHL), featuring seventeen teams and a 72-game regular season. The Brandon Wheat Kings won the franchise's fourth Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy for posting the best regular season record, and followed this up in the playoffs by securing their second President's Cup as league champions, their first since 1978–79.
The Calgary Hitmen joined the WHL as its seventeenth franchise, and the first to be located in Calgary since the Calgary Wranglers in 1987. The Tacoma Rockets relocated to Kelowna, British Columbia and became the Kelowna Rockets.
League notes Following the addition of the Calgary Hitmen and the relocation of the Rockets to Kelowna, the WHL divided into three divisions: The East and Central Divisions formed the Eastern Conference, consisting of five teams per division. The West Division was made up of the seven B.C. and U.S.-based teams. The playoff format was changed so that the top eight teams in the Eastern Conference and the top six in the West Division qualified. The 14 playoff qualifiers all played best-of-seven series in the first round. The East semifinals were best-of-seven affairs, while the highest remaining seed in the West earned a bye. The remaining two West teams played a best-of-five series. Conference and League final series remained best-of-seven. The Spokane Chiefs became the first team in WHL history to win a seven-game playoff series after being down 3 games to 0, against the Portland Winter Hawks in the first round of the West Division playoffs.
Regular season
Final standings
Scoring leaders Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes
Player Team GP G A Pts PIM Mark Deyell Saskatoon Blades 69 61 98 159 122 Frank Banham Saskatoon Blades 72 83 69 152 116 Hnat Domenichelli Kamloops Blazers 62 59 89 148 37 Jarome Iginla Kamloops Blazers 63 63 73 136 120 Robb Gordon Kelowna Rockets 58 51 63 114 84 Josh Holden Regina Pats 70 57 55 112 105 Mike Leclerc Brandon Wheat Kings 71 58 53 111 161 Clarke Wilm Saskatoon Blades 72 49 61 110 83 Peter Schaefer Brandon Wheat Kings 69 47 61 108 53 Marty Flichel Kelowna Rockets 69 28 79 107 107
1996 WHL Playoffs
All-Star game
On January 23, the Eastern Conference defeated the Western Conference 10–7 at Prince George, British Columbia before a crowd of 5,992.
Awards Player of the Year - Four Broncos Memorial Trophy: Jarome Iginla, Kamloops BlazersScholastic Player of the Year - Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy: Bryce Salvador, Lethbridge HurricanesTop Scorer - Bob Clarke Trophy: Mark Deyell, Saskatoon BladesMost Sportsmanlike Player - Brad Hornung Trophy: Hnat Domenichelli, Kamloops BlazersTop Defenseman - Bill Hunter Trophy: Nolan Baumgartner, Kamloops BlazersRookie of the Year - Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy: Chris Phillips, Prince Albert RaidersTop Goaltender - Del Wilson Trophy: David Lemamowicz, Spokane ChiefsCoach of the Year - Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy: Bob Lowes, Brandon Wheat KingsExecutive of the Year - Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy: Tim Speltz, Spokane ChiefsRegular season champions - Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy: Brandon Wheat KingsTop Official - Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy: Lonnie CameronMarketing/Public Relations Award - St. Clair Group Trophy: Dave Pier, Spokane ChiefsWHL Humanitarian of the Year: Darryl Laplante, Moose Jaw WarriorsWHL Plus-Minus Award: Hugh Hamilton, Spokane ChiefsWHL Playoff Most Valuable Player: Bobby Brown, Brandon Wheat Kings
All-Star teams Eastern Conference First Team Second Team Goal Chad Mercier Regina Pats Terry Friesen Swift Current BroncosDefense Wade Redden Brandon Wheat Kings Chad Allan Saskatoon Blades Craig Millar Swift Current Broncos Justin Kurtz Brandon Wheat KingsForward Frank Banham Saskatoon Blades Curtis Brown Prince Albert Raiders Mark Deyell Saskatoon Blades Mike Leclerc Brandon Wheat Kings Peter Schaefer Brandon Wheat Kings Byron Ritchie Lethbridge HurricanesWestern Conference First Team Second Team Goal David Lemanowicz Spokane Chiefs Brian Boucher Tri-City AmericansDefense Nolan Baumgartner Kamloops Blazers Sean Gillam Spokane Chiefs Jason Holland Kamloops Blazers Sheldon Souray Kelowna RocketsForward Jarome Iginla Kamloops Blazers Daymond Langkow Tri-City Americans Hnat Domenichelli Kamloops Blazers Jaroslav Svejkovsky Tri-City Americans Robb Gordon Kelowna Rockets Jason Podollan (tied) Spokane Chiefs - Richard Zedník (tied) Portland Winter Hawks
See also 1996 Memorial Cup 1996 NHL entry draft 1995 in sports 1996 in sports
References 2005–06 WHL Guide