1996–97 IHL 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.

Offseason

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

Eastern Conference
Central GP W L T OTL GF GA Pts
Indianapolis Ice8244290928923097
Cleveland Lumberjacks82403201028628090
Michigan K-Wings8231440720827269
Fort Wayne Komets8228470722331863
North GP W L T OTL GF GA Pts
Detroit Vipers82571708280188122
Orlando Solar Bears82532405305232111
Cincinnati Cyclones82432901025424896
Québec Rafales82413001126724893
Grand Rapids Griffins82403001224424692

Western Conference
Midwest GP W L T OTL GF GA Pts
San Antonio Dragons8245300727627897
Kansas City Blades82382901527127091
Chicago Wolves8240360627629086
Milwaukee Admirals8238360825329884
Manitoba Moose82324001026230074
South GP W L T OTL GF GA Pts
Long Beach Ice Dogs82541909309247117
Houston Aeros8244300824722896
Utah Grizzlies8243330625925492
Las Vegas Thunder8241340728729989
Phoenix Roadrunners82274201323930967

Turner Cup playoffs
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

(E1) Detroit Vipers vs. (E8) Michigan K-Wings
DateVisiting teamScoreHome team
Apr 17Michigan4–3Detroit
Apr 21Michigan1–4Detroit
Arp 25Detroit4–3 (OT)Michigan
Apr 26Detroit4–1Michigan

Detroit won best-of-three series 3–1.[1]

(W1) Long Beach Ice Dogs vs. (W8) Milwaukee Admirals
DateVisiting teamScoreHome team
Apr 18Milwaukee5–6Long Beach
Apr 20Milwaukee3–4 (OT)Long Beach
Apr 25Long Beach1–0 (OT)Milwaukee

Long Beach won best-of-five series 3–0.[1]

(E2) Orlando Solar Bears vs. (E7) Grand Rapids Griffins
DateVisiting teamScoreHome team
Apr 17Grand Rapids3–1Orlando
Apr 21Grand Rapids5–4 (OT)Orlando
Apr 23Orlando4–1Grand Rapids
Apr 26Orlando2–1Grand Rapids
Apr 28Grand Rapids2–3Orlando

Orlando won best-of-five series 3–2.[1]

(W2) San Antonio Dragons vs. (W7) Chicago Wolves
DateVisiting teamScoreHome team
Apr 18Chicago3–5San Antonio
Apr 20Chicago4–3 (OT)San Antonio
Apr 23San Antonio3–2Chicago
Apr 24San Antonio3–2 (OT)Chicago

San Antonio won best-of-five series 3–1.[1]

(E3) Indianapolis Ice vs. (E6) Cleveland Lumberjacks
DateVisiting teamScoreHome team
Apr 18Cleveland3–6Indianapolis
Apr 19Cleveland6–3Indianapolis
Apr 24Indianapolis1–2Cleveland
Apr 26Indianapolis2–3 (OT)Cleveland

Cleveland won best-of-five series 3–1.[1]

(W3) Houston Aeros vs. (W6) Las Vegas Thunder
DateVisiting teamScoreHome team
Apr 19Las Vegas2–4Houston
Apr 20Las Vegas2–4Houston
Apr 25Houston1–0Las Vegas

Houston won best-of-three series 3–0.[1]

(E4) Cincinnati Cyclones vs. (E5) Québec Rafales
DateVisiting teamScoreHome team
Apr 18Québec2–1Cincinnati
Apr 19Québec7–3Cincinnati
Apr 25Cincinnati3–4Québec

Québec won best-of-five series 3–0.[1]

(W4) Utah Grizzlies vs. (W5) Kansas City Blades
DateVisiting teamScoreHome team
Apr 18Kansas City0–2Utah
Apr 21Kansas City3–4 (OT)Utah
Apr 24Utah6–2Kansas City

Utah won best-of-five series 3–0.[1]

Quarterfinals

(E1) Detroit Vipers vs. (E5) Québec Rafales
DateVisiting teamScoreHome team
May 1Québec1–3Detroit
May 3Québec3–1Detroit
May 7Detroit2–1Québec
May 9Detroit6–3Québec
May 10Detroit2–6Québec
May 12Québec0–3Detroit

Detroit won best-of-seven series 4–2.[1]

(W1) Long Beach Ice Dogs vs. (W4) Utah Grizzlies
DateVisiting teamScoreHome team
May 2Utah1–2Long Beach
May 4Utah1–4Long Beach
May 7Long Beach4–1Utah
May 9Long Beach3–2 (OT)Utah

Long Beach won best-of-seven series 4–0.[1]

(E2) Orlando Solar Bears vs. (E6) Cleveland Lumberjacks
DateVisiting teamScoreHome team
May 2Cleveland5–4Orlando
May 3Cleveland3–2 (OT)Orlando
May 7Orlando3–5Cleveland
May 10Orlando3–2Cleveland
May 11Orlando4–6Cleveland

Cleveland won best-of-seven series 4–1.[1]

(W2) San Antonio Dragons vs. (W3) Houston Aeros
DateVisiting teamScoreHome team
May 2Houston4–0San Antonio
May 3Houston4–3 (OT)San Antonio
May 6San Antonio2–5Houston
May 9San Antonio2–1Houston
May 10San Antonio3–4Houston

Houston won best-of-seven series 4–1.[1]

Semifinals

(E1) Detroit Vipers vs. (E6) Cleveland Lumberjacks
DateVisiting teamScoreHome team
May 16Cleveland2–4Detroit
May 18Cleveland1–4Detroit
May 22Detroit1–3Cleveland
May 24Detroit6–4Cleveland
May 25Cleveland1–3Detroit

Detroit won best-of-seven series 4–1.[1]

(W1) Long Beach Ice Dogs vs. (W3) Houston Aeros
DateVisiting teamScoreHome team
May 15Long Beach1–4Houston
May 18Houston3–5Long Beach
May 19Houston2–5Long Beach
May 21Long Beach5–3Houston
May 22Long Beach4–2Houston

Long Beach won best-of-seven series 4–1.[1]

Turner Cup Finals

(E1) Detroit Vipers vs. (W1) Long Beach Ice Dogs
DateVisiting teamScoreHome team
May 30Long Beach3–5Detroit
June 1Long Beach3–0Detroit
June 9Detroit5–1Long Beach
June 11Detroit3–1Long Beach
June 13Detroit1–2 (OT)Long Beach
June 15Long Beach0–2Detroit

Detroit won Turner Cup 4–2.[1]

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References
  1. Diamond 2000, p. 35.
Bibliography
  • Diamond, Dan, ed. (2000). Total Hockey. Total Sports. ISBN 1-892129-85-X.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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