1997–98 IHL season

1997-98 IHL season
LeagueInternational Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationOctober 2, 1997 – June 15, 1998
Number of games82
Number of teams18
Regular season
Fred A. Huber TrophyLong Beach Ice Dogs
Season MVPPatrice Lefebvre (Thunder)
Top scorerPatrice Lefebvre (Thunder)
Playoffs
Playoffs MVPAlexander Semak (Wolves)
Turner Cup
ChampionsChicago Wolves
  Runners-upDetroit Vipers
Seasons

The 1997–98 IHL season was the 53rd season of the International Hockey League, a North American minor professional league. 18 teams participated in the regular season, and the Chicago Wolves won the Turner Cup. Gordie Howe came out of retirement to play one shift for the Detroit Vipers in the middle of this season.

Regular season

Eastern Conference

Central Division GP W L T OTL GF GA Pts
Fort Wayne Komets 82 47 29 0 6 270 243 100
Cincinnati Cyclones 82 40 30 0 12 275 254 92
Indianapolis Ice 82 40 36 0 6 245 261 86
Cleveland Lumberjacks 82 35 37 0 10 228 262 80
Michigan K-Wings 82 36 39 0 7 223 261 79
Northeast Division GP W L T OTL GF GA Pts
Detroit Vipers 82 47 20 0 15 267 232 109
Orlando Solar Bears 82 42 30 0 10 258 251 94
Grand Rapids Griffins 82 38 31 0 13 225 242 89
Québec Rafales 82 27 48 0 7 211 292 61

Western Conference

Midwest Division GP W L T OTL GF GA Pts
Chicago Wolves 82 55 24 0 3 301 258 113
Kansas City Blades 82 41 29 0 12 269 258 94
Milwaukee Admirals 82 43 34 0 5 267 262 91
Manitoba Moose 82 39 36 0 7 269 254 85
Southwest Division GP W L T OTL GF GA Pts
Long Beach Ice Dogs 82 53 20 0 9 282 210 115
Houston Aeros 82 50 22 0 10 268 214 110
Utah Grizzlies 82 47 27 0 8 276 234 102
Las Vegas Thunder 82 33 39 0 10 260 305 76
San Antonio Dragons 82 25 49 0 8 233 334 58

Awards

1998 IHL awards
Turner Cup Chicago Wolves
Fred A. Huber Trophy:
(Best regular-season record)		 Long Beach Ice Dogs
Frank Gallagher Trophy:
(Eastern Conference playoff champion)		 Detroit Vipers
Ken Ullyot Trophy:
(Western Conference playoff champion)		 Chicago Wolves
Comeback Player of the Year Award: Mike Tomlak, Milwaukee Admirals
Commissioner's Trophy:
(Best coach)		 John Torchetti, Fort Wayne Komets
Gary F. Longman Memorial Trophy:
(Best first-year player)		 Todd White, Indianapolis Ice
Governor's Trophy:
(Best defenceman)		 Dan Lambert, Long Beach Ice Dogs
I. John Snider, II Trophy:
(Leadership and humanitarian contribution)		 Rod Miller, Utah Grizzlies
Ironman Award:
(Best two-way player over 82 games)		 Doug Ast, Long Beach Ice Dogs
James Gatschene Memorial Trophy:
(Most valuable player, regular season)		 Patrice Lefebvre, Las Vegas Thunder
James Norris Memorial Trophy:
(Goaltenders with lowest GAA)		 Mike Buzak and Kay Whitmore, Long Beach Ice Dogs
Ken McKenzie Trophy:
(Best U.S.-born first-year player)		 Eric Nickulas, Orlando Solar Bears
Leo P. Lamoureux Memorial Trophy:
(Player with most points)		 Patrice Lefebvre, Las Vegas Thunder
Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy:
(Most valuable player, playoffs)		 Alexander Semak, Chicago Wolves

Turner Cup-Playoffs

The banner honoring the Chicago Wolves 1998 Turner Cup Championship hanging in the Allstate Arena
Turner Cup-1/8 Finals Turner Cup-Quarterfinals Turner Cup-Semifinals Turner Cup-Final
            
E1 Detroit Vipers 3
E8 Michigan K-Wings 1
E1 Detroit Vipers 4
E4 Cincinnati Cyclones 2
E4 Cincinnati Cyclones 3
E5 Grand Rapids Griffins 0
E1 Detroit Vipers 4
Eastern Conference
E3 Orlando Solar Bears 2
E3 Orlando Solar Bears 3
E6 Indianapolis Ice 2
E3 Orlando Solar Bears 4
E7 Cleveland Lumberjacks 2
E2 Fort Wayne Komets 1
E7 Cleveland Lumberjacks 3
E1 Detroit Vipers 3
W2 Chicago Wolves 4
W1 Long Beach Ice Dogs 3
W8 Las Vegas Thunder 1
W1 Long Beach Ice Dogs 4
W5 Kansas City Blades 3
W4 Utah Grizzlies 1
W5 Kansas City Blades 3
W1 Long Beach Ice Dogs 2
Western Conference
W2 Chicago Wolves 4
W2 Chicago Wolves 3
W7 Manitoba Moose 0
W2 Chicago Wolves 4
W6 Milwaukee Admirals 2
W3 Houston Aeros 1
W6 Milwaukee Admirals 3