The WHL followed the lead of the National Hockey League and adopted both 4-on-4 overtime and a standings format that saw teams losing in overtime earn one point.
Map of WHL, 1998–97 to 2000–01
200km
Wheat Kings
Pats
Warriors
Raiders
Blades
Broncos
Tigers
Hurricanes
Rebels
Hitmen
Ice
Chiefs
Americans
Rockets
Blazers
Thunderbirds
Winterhawks
Cougars
East Division
Central Division
West Division
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes
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
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
edit
Calgary vs. Moose Jaw
Date
Away
Home
March 29
Moose Jaw 4
5 Calgary OT
March 30
Moose Jaw 3
6 Calgary
April 1
Calgary 4 2 Moose Jaw
April 2
Calgary 8 2 Moose Jaw
Calgary wins series 4–0
Kootenay vs. Red Deer
Date
Away
Home
March 30
Red Deer 4
7 Kootenay
March 31
Red Deer 0
8 Kootenay
April 2
Kootenay 7 4 Red Deer
April 3
Kootenay 2 1 Red Deer
OT
Kootenay wins series 4–0
Swift Current vs. Prince Albert
Date
Away
Home
March 30
Prince Albert 3 2 Swift Current
March 31
Prince Albert 2
6 Swift Current
April 2
Swift Current 4 2 Prince Albert
April 3
Swift Current 2
5 Prince Albert
April 5
Prince Albert 3
6 Swift Current
April 7
Swift Current 4 3 Prince Albert
Swift Current wins series 4–2
Saskatoon vs. Regina
Date
Away
Home
March 29
Regina 6 4 Saskatoon
March 31
Saskatoon 1
6 Regina
April 1
Regina 0
3 Saskatoon
April 3
Saskatoon 6 3 Regina
April 5
Regina 0
4 Saskatoon
April 7
Saskatoon 2
7 Regina
April 8
Regina 1
5 Saskatoon
Saskatoon wins series 4–3
Spokane vs. Tri-City
Date
Away
Home
March 29
Tri-City 1
8 Spokane
March 31
Spokane 6 2 Tri-City
April 1
Spokane 3 2 Tri-City
April 5
Tri-City 0
2 Spokane
Spokane wins series 4–0
Seattle vs. Kamloops
Date
Away
Home
April 1
Kamloops 2
5 Seattle
April 2
Kamloops 2
7 Seattle
April 4
Seattle 3 2 Kamloops
April 5
Seattle 5 2 Kamloops
Seattle wins series 4–0
Prince George vs. Kelowna
Date
Away
Home
March 31
Kelowna 4 2 Prince George
April 1
Kelowna 0
4 Prince George
April 4
Prince George 4 1 Kelowna
April 5
Prince George 4 2 Kelowna
April 7
Kelowna 3
4 Prince George OT
Prince George wins series 4–1
Conference semifinals
edit
Eastern Conference
Calgary vs. Saskatoon
Date
Away
Home
April 10
Saskatoon 0
7 Calgary
April 11
Saskatoon 2
6 Calgary
April 13
Calgary 6 2 Saskatoon
April 14
Calgary 4 2 Saskatoon
Calgary wins series 4–0
Kootenay vs. Swift Current
Date
Away
Home
April 10
Swift Current 2 1 Kootenay
April 11
Swift Current 2
6 Kootenay
April 13
Kootenay 1
2 Swift Current
April 14
Kootenay 4 2 Swift Current
April 16
Swift Current 1
6 Kootenay
April 18
Kootenay 3 1 Swift Current
Kootenay wins series 4–2
Western Conference
Prince George vs. Seattle
Date
Away
Home
April 13
Seattle 2
5 Prince George
April 14
Seattle 0
7 Prince George
April 16
Prince George 4 2 Seattle
Prince George wins series 3–0
Eastern Conference
Western Conference
Calgary vs. Kootenay
Date
Away
Home
April 21
Kootenay 2
3 Calgary
April 22
Kootenay 3 2 Calgary
April 25
Calgary 2
3 Kootenay
April 26
Calgary 2
3 Kootenay
April 29
Kootenay 6 5 Calgary
OT
Kootenay wins series 4–1
Prince George vs. Spokane
Date
Away
Home
April 23
Prince George 4
5 Spokane
April 24
Prince George 3
4 Spokane
April 25
Spokane 0
3 Prince George
April 28
Spokane 4 3 Prince George
OT
April 29
Spokane 4 2 Prince George
Spokane wins series 4–1
Kootenay vs. Spokane
Date
Away
Home
May 5
Spokane 3 2 Kootenay
May 6
Spokane 3 2 Kootenay
May 9
Kootenay 3 2 Spokane
May 10
Kootenay 4 1 Spokane
May 12
Spokane 1
2 Kootenay
May 13
Kootenay 1 0 Spokane
Kootenay wins series 4–2
On January 19, the Eastern Conference defeated the Western Conference 10–9 at Kelowna, British Columbia before a crowd of 5,420.
Four Broncos Memorial Trophy (Player of the Year): Brad Moran , Calgary Hitmen
Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy (Scholastic Player of the Year): Chris Nielson , Calgary Hitmen
Scholastic Team of the Year: Portland Winterhawks
Bob Clarke Trophy (Top scorer): Brad Moran , Calgary Hitmen
Brad Hornung Trophy (Most Sportsmanlike Player): Trent Hunter , Prince George Cougars
Bill Hunter Trophy (Top Defenseman): Micki Dupont , Kamloops Blazers
Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year): Dan Blackburn , Kootenay Ice
Del Wilson Trophy (Top Goaltender): Bryce Wandler , Swift Current Broncos
Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy (Coach of the Year): Todd McLellan , Swift Current Broncos
Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy (Executive of the Year): Tim Speltz , Spokane Chiefs
Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy (Best regular season record): Calgary Hitmen
Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy (Top Official): Mike Hasenfratz
St. Clair Group Trophy (Marketing/Public Relations Award): Mike Jenkins, Prince Albert Raiders
WHL Humanitarian of the Year : Chris Nielson , Calgary Hitmen
WHL Plus-Minus Award : Kenton Smith , Calgary Hitmen
WHL Playoff Most Valuable Player : Dan Blackburn , Kootenay Ice
