The 1998–99 WHL season was the 33rd season for the Western Hockey League. Eighteen teams completed a 72-game season. The Calgary Hitmen won the President's Cup.
League notes
- The Edmonton Ice relocated to Cranbrook, British Columbia to become the Kootenay Ice.
Regular season
Final standings
East Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
x Prince Albert Raiders | 72 | 45 | 22 | 5 | 95 | 288 | 213 |
x Brandon Wheat Kings | 72 | 39 | 29 | 4 | 82 | 293 | 267 |
x Moose Jaw Warriors | 72 | 39 | 31 | 2 | 80 | 292 | 262 |
x Swift Current Broncos | 72 | 34 | 32 | 6 | 74 | 232 | 211 |
Regina Pats | 72 | 24 | 43 | 5 | 53 | 238 | 312 |
Saskatoon Blades | 72 | 16 | 49 | 7 | 39 | 184 | 291 |
Central Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
x Calgary Hitmen | 72 | 51 | 13 | 8 | 110 | 319 | 187 |
x Red Deer Rebels | 72 | 34 | 33 | 5 | 73 | 274 | 250 |
x Lethbridge Hurricanes | 72 | 31 | 32 | 9 | 71 | 224 | 215 |
x Kootenay Ice | 72 | 30 | 35 | 7 | 67 | 245 | 276 |
Medicine Hat Tigers | 72 | 15 | 56 | 1 | 31 | 185 | 323 |
Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes
Goaltending leaders
Note: GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties ; GA = Goals against; SO = Total shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
1999 WHL Playoffs
- Top eight teams in the Eastern Conference (East and Central divisions) qualified for playoffs
- Top six teams in the Western Conference (division) qualified for the playoffs
Conference quarterfinals
Eastern Conference
Calgary vs. Kootenay | Date | Away | Home | March 24 | Kootenay 5 | 7 Calgary | March 26 | Calgary 3 | 6 Kootenay | March 27 | Calgary 4 | 5 Kootenay | OT | March 29 | Kootenay 2 | 5 Calgary | March 31 | Kootenay 2 | 3 Calgary | April 1 | Calgary 3 | 4 Kootenay | April 2 | Kootenay 3 | 8 Calgary | Calgary wins series 4–3 | | Prince Albert vs. Lethbridge | Date | Away | Home | March 24 | Lethbridge 1 | 7 Prince Albert | March 26 | Lethbridge 2 | 3 Prince Albert | March 27 | Prince Albert 11 | 2 Lethbridge | March 29 | Prince Albert 4 | 1 Lethbridge | Prince Albert wins series 4–0 | |
Moose Jaw vs. Swift Current | Date | Away | Home | March 25 | Swift Current 2 | 3 Moose Jaw | March 26 | Swift Current 2 | 4 Moose Jaw | March 28 | Moose Jaw 3 | 4 Swift Current | OT | March 30 | Moose Jaw 5 | 3 Swift Current | March 31 | Swift Current 2 | 0 Moose Jaw | April 2 | Moose Jaw 3 | 2 Swift Current | Moose Jaw wins series 4–2 | | Red Deer vs. Brandon | Date | Away | Home | March 24 | Red Deer 5 | 2 Brandon | March 25 | Red Deer 5 | 1 Brandon | March 27 | Brandon 5 | 9 Red Deer | March 28 | Brandon 4 | 3 Red Deer | March 30 | Red Deer 7 | 3 Brandon | Red Deer wins series 4–1 | |
Western Conference
Kamloops vs. Kelowna | Date | Away | Home | March 25 | Kelowna 0 | 2 Kamloops | March 36 | Kelowna 1 | 3 Kamloops | March 30 | Kamloops 1 | 3 Kelowna | April 1 | Kamloops 3 | 1 Kelowna | April 3 | Kelowna 4 | 3 Kamloops | April 4 | Kamloops 3 | 2 Kelowna | Kamloops wins series 4–2 | | Tri-City vs. Portland | Date | Away | Home | March 26 | Portland 3 | 4 Tri-City | OT | March 27 | Portland 2 | 6 Tri-City | March 31 | Tri-City 3 | 2 Portland | OT | April 2 | Tri-City 6 | 2 Portland | Tri-City wins series 4–0 | |
Seattle vs. Prince George | Date | Away | Home | March 27 | Prince George 2 | 5 Seattle | March 28 | Prince George 1 | 3 Seattle | March 30 | Seattle 4 | 5 Prince George | March 31 | Seattle 3 | 2 Prince George | April 3 | Prince George 3 | 1 Seattle | April 5 | Seattle 1 | 4 Prince George | April 7 | Prince George 0 | 6 Seattle | Seattle wins series 4–3 | |
Conference semifinals
Eastern Conference |
Calgary vs. Red Deer | Date | Away | Home | April 5 | Red Deer 3 | 6 Calgary | April 6 | Calgary 4 | 3 Red Deer | OT | April 8 | Red Deer 2 | 4 Calgary | April 9 | Calgary 3 | 1 Red Deer | Calgary wins series 4–0 | | Prince Albert vs. Moose Jaw | Date | Away | Home | April 5 | Moose Jaw 1 | 5 Prince Albert | April 6 | Moose Jaw 2 | 5 Prince Albert | April 8 | Prince Albert 6 | 0 Moose Jaw | April 9 | Prince Albert 3 | 4 Moose Jaw | April 11 | Moose Jaw 3 | 8 Prince Albert | Prince Albert wins series 4–1 | |
Western Conference |
Tri-City vs. Seattle | Date | Away | Home | April 9 | Seattle 4 | 3 Tri-City | April 10 | Seattle 0 | 6 Tri-City | April 12 | Tri-City 4 | 0 Seattle | April 13 | Tri-City 4 | 2 Seattle | Tri-City wins series 3–1 | | |
Conference finals
Eastern Conference | Western Conference |
Calgary vs. Prince Albert | Date | Away | Home | April 16 | Prince Albert 3 | 7 Calgary | April 18 | Prince Albert 4 | 5 Calgary | OT | April 20 | Calgary 5 | 6 Prince Albert | April 22 | Calgary 7 | 1 Prince Albert | April 24 | Prince Albert 2 | 6 Calgary | Calgary wins series 4–1 | | Kamloops vs. Tri-City | Date | Away | Home | April 17 | Tri-City 3 | 4 Kamloops | April 18 | Tri-City 0 | 6 Kamloops | April 21 | Kamloops 3 | 2 Tri-City | OT | April 22 | Kamloops 4 | 3 Tri-City | Kamloops wins series 4–0 | |
WHL Championship
Calgary vs. Kamloops |
Date | Away | Home |
April 30 | Kamloops 4 | 2 Calgary |
May 2 | Kamloops 0 | 4 Calgary |
May 4 | Calgary 4 | 2 Kamloops |
May 5 | Calgary 4 | 3 Kamloops | 2OT |
May 7 | Kamloops 2 | 5 Calgary |
Calgary wins series 4–1 |
All-Star game
On January 20, the Western Conference defeated the Eastern Conference 11–9 at Lethbridge, Alberta before a crowd of 5,071.
WHL awards
Player of the Year - Four Broncos Memorial Trophy: Cody Rudkowsky, Seattle Thunderbirds |
Scholastic Player of the Year - Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy: Chris Nielson, Calgary Hitmen |
Top Scorer - Bob Clarke Trophy: Pavel Brendl, Calgary Hitmen |
Most Sportsmanlike Player - Brad Hornung Trophy: Matt Kinch, Calgary Hitmen |
Top Defenseman - Bill Hunter Trophy: Brad Stuart, Calgary Hitmen |
Rookie of the Year - Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy: Pavel Brendl, Calgary Hitmen |
Top Goaltender - Del Wilson Trophy: Cody Rudkowsky, Seattle Thunderbirds |
Coach of the Year - Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy: Don Hay, Tri-City Americans |
Executive of the Year - Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy: Don Hay, Tri-City Americans |
Regular season champions - Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy: Calgary Hitmen |
Top Official - Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy: Kelly Sutherland |
Marketing/Public Relations Award - St. Clair Group Trophy: Scott Clark, Regina Pats |
Humanitarian of the Year - Andrew Ference, Portland Winter Hawks |
WHL Plus-Minus Award: Pavel Brendl, Calgary Hitmen |
Playoff Most Valuable Player - airBC Trophy: Brad Moran, Calgary Hitmen |
All-Star Teams
See also
References