1997–98 IHL season

North American ice hockey season August 2023 1997-98 IHL season International Hockey League Ice hockey October 2, 1997 – June 15, 1998 82 18 Regular season Fred A. Huber Trophy Patrice Lefebvre (Thunder) James Gatschene Memorial Trophy Patrice Lefebvre (Thunder) Leo P. Lamoureux Memorial Trophy Long Beach Ice Dogs Playoffs Alexander Semak (Wolves) Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy (IHL) Turner Cup Turner Cup Chicago Wolves Detroit Vipers 1996–97 1998–99 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 awardsTurner Cup Chicago WolvesFred A. Huber Trophy:(Best regular-season record) Long Beach Ice DogsFrank Gallagher Trophy:(Eastern Conference playoff champion) Detroit VipersKen Ullyot Trophy: (Western Conference playoff champion) Chicago WolvesComeback Player of the Year Award: Mike Tomlak, Milwaukee AdmiralsCommissioner's Trophy:(Best coach) John Torchetti, Fort Wayne KometsGary F. Longman Memorial Trophy:(Best first-year player) Todd White, Indianapolis IceGovernor's Trophy:(Best defenceman) Dan Lambert, Long Beach Ice DogsI. John Snider, II Trophy:(Leadership and humanitarian contribution) Rod Miller, Utah GrizzliesIronman Award:(Best two-way player over 82 games) Doug Ast, Long Beach Ice DogsJames Gatschene Memorial Trophy:(Most valuable player, regular season) Patrice Lefebvre, Las Vegas ThunderJames Norris Memorial Trophy:(Goaltenders with lowest GAA) Mike Buzak and Kay Whitmore, Long Beach Ice DogsKen McKenzie Trophy:(Best U.S.-born first-year player) Eric Nickulas, Orlando Solar BearsLeo P. Lamoureux Memorial Trophy:(Player with most points) Patrice Lefebvre, Las Vegas ThunderNorman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy:(Most valuable player, playoffs) Alexander Semak, Chicago Wolves Turner Cup-Playoffs thumb|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 Eastern Conference Western Conference E1 Detroit Vipers 3 E8 Michigan K-Wings 1 E4 Cincinnati Cyclones 3 E5 Grand Rapids Griffins 0 E3 Orlando Solar Bears 3 E6 Indianapolis Ice 2 E2 Fort Wayne Komets 1 E7 Cleveland Lumberjacks 3 W1 Long Beach Ice Dogs 3 W8 Las Vegas Thunder 1 W4 Utah Grizzlies 1 W5 Kansas City Blades 3 W2 Chicago Wolves 3 W7 Manitoba Moose 0 W3 Houston Aeros 1 W6 Milwaukee Admirals 3 E1 Detroit Vipers 4 E4 Cincinnati Cyclones 2 E3 Orlando Solar Bears 4 E7 Cleveland Lumberjacks 2 W1 Long Beach Ice Dogs 4 W5 Kansas City Blades 3 W2 Chicago Wolves 4 W6 Milwaukee Admirals 2 E1 Detroit Vipers 4 E3 Orlando Solar Bears 2 W1 Long Beach Ice Dogs 2 W2 Chicago Wolves 4 E1 Detroit Vipers 3 W2 Chicago Wolves 4 External links Season 1997/98 on hockeydb.com IHL IHL Category:International Hockey League (1945–2001) seasons