1996-97 Regular Season

The 1996 rookie class was projected to be among the deepest in league history and the rookies around the league did not disappoint. 1^st-overall draft pick Sergei Gulinov scored 102 points for Cleveland, finally leading the Cosmos to their first-ever playoff berth, In Philadelphia, Jared Baxter scored 43 goals, while second and third picks Kris Whittle and Andrei Alexeev each scored 41. Nobody, however, could’ve predicted the year that Racers’ pick Joe Murdock would have. Selected 27^th in the draft, Murdock was a relative unknown, not even expected to crack the loaded Toronto lineup. Murdock stole the show at training camp, scoring eight goals in Toronto’s five exhibition games, a performance that included a hat-trick. Once the season started, the 18-year-old from Kelowna, BC did
not slow down. Murdock became the second rookie in PHL history to win the scoring race with 131 points, including 62 goals as the Racers took second place in the Eastern Conference. Murdock’s incredible performance even prompted the Racers to trade aging star Magnus Swedberg in order to give him more ice time. “I can’t believe what this kid has accomplished this year” said head coach Bob Lacey. “He’s definitely a special player.” Murdock wasn’t the only Racer making headlines in 1996-97, veteran winger Stuart Burns’ first year in Toronto was a success, as the 36-year-old became one of the oldest players to score 100 points.

The New York Civics enjoyed their best season in years, finishing first overall in the league for the first time since Skippy Cleveland led them there in 1957. Aaron Duplacy enjoyed his best year since 1994, scoring 46 goals to lead the team, Lamar Jackson was a runner up for defenseman-of-the-year, while 19-year veteran Clark Pratt announced 1996-97 would be his final season. The Civics headed into the post-season full of optimism. Montreal endured a tough year, losing Vincent Ducharme to a torn ACL in November, but still managed to finish fourth. Veteran Sylvain Landry picked up the slack for Ducharme with 92 points to lead the team. One of the most pleasant surprises of the year was in the PHL’s newest city, as the Carolina Raiders finished fifth in the East to secure the franchise’s first playoff berth since 1985 when the team played in Ottawa. Rookie center Shane Dutton played a big role with 78 points, while Gus Avery led the team in points with 84. “Obviously all the distractions from the last couple of years are gone” said captain Kevin Drake. “We’ve just been able to focus on hockey this year, and it’s been a fun year.”

Meanwhile, 1996-97 was a disappointing year for the defending Eastern Conference champion Quebec Nationale, who struggled to keep pace with the Cosmos and Bulldogs for the 8^th and final playoff spot, the Nats had an opportunity to catch Boston for the final playoff spot in their final game of the year against Montreal. Quebec led the game after the first period, but ultimately lost 3-1, eliminating them from playoff contention.

Out West, it was the league’s oldest rookie that was getting all the attention in Dallas. Eight years after being drafted by the Milwaukee Choppers, Syong Li finally made his PHL debut after signing a contract with the injury-riddled Desperadoes. Li, whose parents had fled North Korea in the 1950s, played very well on a line with AJ Vernon and Jeff Jones, finishing second on the team in scoring. Unfortunately, it would only be enough to barely pull Dallas out of last place. “We’ve made some strides this year” said GM Ross Becker. “We’re moving in the right direction.” Chicago was finally unseated as the Western Conference champions in 1997, as the defending Lewis Cup champion Minnesota Lumberjacks took the crown. Jason Crowley continued his strong play from the previous season and from the World Hockey Challenge, while Christian Grayson claimed the Whyte Trophy as the league’s top goaltender. Kansas City also made a push for top spot in the conference, with help coming at the trade deadline in the form of Toronto star Magnus Swedberg. Swedberg played very well with Brett Delaney and Darian Ashmore as the Twisters earned a fourth place finish and home-ice advantage.

The Calgary Wranglers had a season to forget in 1996-97. First, captain Shannon Michaels was lost for the season after sustaining a serious concussion in an October fight with St. Louis tough guy Ryan McCarthy. Only a week later, Sergei Krayev suffered a potentially tragic eye injury. After losing 90 percent of his vision in his right eye, Krayev was finished for the year and his career was in doubt. The incident immediately sparked a debate about the use of visors, with the league desiring to make them mandatory. Krayev vowed to don a visor if he ever returned to the ice, while a few other players around the league also put them on, including LA’s Shawn Kelly, the player whose stick had injured Krayev. The Wranglers’ season was summed up perfectly on March 1 against Seattle when both Zambonis broke down on the same night, delaying the game by an hour. Ultimately, Calgary dropped to 9^th place, out of the playoff picture.

Calgary’s loss was Vancouver’s gain, as the Bighorns returned to the playoffs. Off-season acquisition Tory Partridge flourished with his new team, taking advantage of the increase in ice time to score 73 points. Enforcer Cedric Thibault also enjoyed success of his own, setting a new league record for penalty minutes in a single season with 411. Between Thibault, Partridge, tough defensemen AJ Devries and Trevor Kerwick, and veteran Bruce Blackwell, the Bighorns were one of the league’s toughest teams, setting a PHL record for fighting majors by one team. The Bighorns weren’t the only team in the west to return to the post-season. The Winnipeg Pioneers finally reached the playoffs for the first time since 1990. Luke Morrison was spectacular in the net, while Dan Crow led the team in scoring with 82 points. “It’s been a long wait, especially for these fans” said head coach Craig Nelson. “We’ll be ready for LA, we proved this year that we’re better than people think, I think we can surprise some people.”

1996 World Hockey Challenge

The 1996 World Hockey Challenge once again had a very different look than previous iterations. The Soviet Union, who played the 1992 tournament as the Commonwealth of Independent States, now entered as Team Russia. The Russian team, with a lineup full of young talent, was seen as one of the favorites to win the tournament as Vladimir Gaganov returned to the team for the first time since the inaugural tournament in 1976. Canada, after a devastating loss in ’92, entered the tournament as the primary favorites to win it all. Led by Vincent Ducharme, the Canadian team was the deepest in the tournament, while the defending champion Americans, led by reigning Lewis Cup champion Jason Crowley, hoped to prove their upset over their Northern Neighbors in 1992 was no fluke.

For the first time ever, the tournament would feature ten teams. Czechoslovakia had split into two countries, Czech Republic and Slovakia. Both nations would be represented in the tournament while Denmark, led by young Washington star Jakob Olsen, entered the WHC for the first time. The Danes predictably struggled in their first tournament, but still managed a win against Germany in their second-last game. Both the Germans and the British went without a win in the round robin, disqualifying them from the playoff round. The three teams expected to contend for the championship all managed to survive the round robin without a loss. The Americans skated to a perfect 4-0-0 record as Jason Crowley led the team in scoring, while Bradley Pope and Christian Grayson were both spectacular in net.

The race for first place in pool A turned into a dogfight, as Canada and Russia entered their final round-robin game against each other both with undefeated records. Russian star Igor Zharkov led the round-robin in scoring, while Canadian goaltender, Zharkov’s Washington teammate Jake Borman was easily the top goaltender with two shutouts as Canada had only allowed one goal in their first three games. The teams played each other hard in one of the most exciting games in the tournament’s history. Borman and 19-year-old Russian goalie Alexei Rolonov both played the game of their lives, as the teams skated to a 2-2 tie. The Russians took first place on the basis they had more goals.

In the playoff round, the Americans finally had their first scare when Slovakia opened the scoring in their quarterfinal matchup. After Rostislav Stransky scored to make it 1-0, the Americans simply couldn’t solve 33-year-old PHL veteran Jaroslav Danek. Heading into the third period, the Slovaks still led 1-0. Danek still would not yield to the Americans until midway through the period, when Travis Watson finally found a hole and tied the game. Just minutes later, a Randy Fernandez slap shot gave team USA the lead. Mike Bidden sealed the win with an empty-netter and the Americans advanced to the semifinals. The Canadians also survived a quarterfinal scare against Sweden. The game was scoreless throughout regulation and went into overtime, where Martin Vannier finally scored to send team Canada to the semis. An upset over Finland sent the Czech Republic to the semis to face USA, while Russia routed Denmark 9-1 to earn another showdown with Canada.

The rematch between Canada and Russia was the most watched hockey game in Canada since the famous 1980 final between the same teams. It looked good for the Canadians early on, as Ducharme scored just minutes in. After nearly two full periods of a tense 1-0 game, grinder Tory Partridge made it 2-0 for Canada. With the Americans having beaten the Czechs to advance, it looked like it would be a North American rematch in the final. However, a different Russian team showed up for the third period. Gaganov scored six minutes into the third, then Igor Kharitanov tied it. The Moscow arena erupted while the living rooms and bars across Canada went silent. Borman and Rolonov both played very well into overtime, where Kharitanov scored again to win it for Russia. For the first time in the history of World Hockey Challenge, Canada failed to reach the championship game.

The building was packed for the final showdown between the host team Russia, and the defending champions, team USA. Both teams came out hitting and just two minutes in, American defenseman Scott Drayton hammered Russian star Alexei Yolkin, knocking him out of the game. Minutes later, Crowley scored to give the Americans a 1-0 lead. The Russians now had to find a way to overcome the deficit without one of their top players. The Russians attacked hard, but Christian Grayson always had an answer. Finally, veteran Alexander Orlov beat Grayson to tie the game. The tie would last through most of the third period, as both Igor Zharkov and Craig Bush hit the posts late in the third, Finally, Oleg Markov stunned Grayson with a slapshot from the blueline for the winner with just 11 seconds left. The clock ticked down as the Russian players piled off the bench and began celebrating. Even the fans began to pour onto the ice to celebrate with their heroes. Igor Zharkov had proven himself as one of the most dominating young players in the game, leading the tournament in scoring and claiming MVP honours. After a very eventful start to the decade, the Russians where World Champions for the second time in WHC history.

Carolina Raiders Unveil Identity

The newly relocated Carolina Raiders finally ended weeks of speculation when they unveiled their logo and uniforms for their inaugural season in Charlotte. The logo features a skull wearing a pirate hat in the team colors of black, red, and white, a scheme carried over from when the team played in Ottawa. The road jersey is black with silver and red trim and a pirate flag design featuring the team name on the bottom, while the home whites mirror the same style. "Given the faced-paced situation we're in, we didn't have a great deal of time to come up with a design. All things considered, I think it looks good and I think the fans will like it" said Raiders owner John Millbrook.

1996 Off-Season

1996 Entry Draft

The 1996 PHL draft was projected to be a very strong one, not unlike the draft a decade earlier. Russian phenom Sergei Gulinov was projected to go first overall after a 112-point season playing pro in Russia. Sure enough, the Cleveland Cosmos took Gulinov with the first pick, hoping the playmaker would mesh nicely with fellow countryman Alexei Stepanov. “Watch out for the Cosmos” said one commentator. “They’re still a few years away but they’ll be a very fun team to watch someday.” With the second pick, the New Orleans Sound picked big center Kris Whittle from the US National team. At number three, the Dallas Desperadoes, needing a goalie, opted to trade down, giving Detroit the next pick. The Mustangs nabbed their new franchise player, Russian sensation Andrei Alexeev at number three, while the Desperadoes selected Alexei Rolonov as their future franchise goalie. Other interesting picks included Washington pick Geoff Collier, son of former Pioneers defenseman Kent Collier, and Minnesota’s Brendan Marlo, who, if he cracks the Lumberjacks’ lineup, will be the shortest player in PHL history at just 5’ 5”.

1.      CLE – Sergei Gulinov, F, RUS

2.      NOS – Kris Whittle, F, USA

3.      DET (From DAL) – Andrei Alexeev, F, RUS

4.      SEA – Maxime Chabot, F, CAN

5.      CAR – Shane Dutton, F, CAN

6.      LI – Riley Gardiner, D, GB

7.      STL – Shawn Marchinski, F, CAN

8.      DAL (from DET) – Alexei Rolonov, G, RUS

9.      MIL – Alex Marin, F, USA

10.   WPG – Sergei Bobkov, D, RUS

11.   PHI – Jared Baxter, F, CAN

12.   VAN – Jason Quint, D, CAN

13.   MIA – Trey Bellows, D, USA

14.   QUE – Marcel Gamache, D, CAN

15.   DEN -- Cam Richardson, F, USA

16.   BOS – Mikeal Larsson, F, SWE

17.   EDM – Patrick Gill, D, CAN

18.   PIT – Alexis Holzer, F, GER

19.   WSH – Geoff Collier, F, CAN

20.   CAL – Dominik Kovac, D, CZE

21.   CGY – Tim Brown, F, USA

22.   MIN – Brendan Marlo, F, CAN

23.   KC – Timmo Virtanen, F, FIN

24.   MTL – Todd Paterson, F, CAN

25.   LA – Petr Slavik, F, SLV

26.   NYC – Joel McDonald, F, CAN

27.   TOR – Joe Murdock, F, CAN

28.   CHI – Ben Kerrrigan, G, USA

Notable Retirements:

Ron Buckner, G, PIT, BOS, DEN, 1983-1996

Drafted late by Pittsburgh in 1980, Ron Buckner never played a game for the Stingers, spending the first two seasons of his career with their minor-league team in Scranton, PA. In 1983 he finally got his big break when the Boston Bulldogs acquired him and gave him the starters’ job. Over the following 11 seasons with the ‘Dogs, Buckner never missed the post-season, eventually backstopping Boston to two division titles in 1991 and ’92. In 1992-93, Buckner played his final season as the Bulldogs’ starter, eventually giving up the number one job to Kevin Washer during the playoffs. Boston went on to win the Lewis Cup that year with Buckner playing the backup role and in 1993-94, he was traded to Denver, where he regained number one status. Buckner would play two more full seasons with the Bulls before retiring.

Theo Gill, F, PHI, 1979-1996

When Theo Gill was selected second-overall by the Winnipeg Pioneers in 1979, it was hoped that he would eventually become the franchise player the Pioneers had been hoping for. Though Gill’s play over the following decade was strong, the Pioneers struggled to add additional talent and during Gill’s ten seasons in Winnipeg, the Pioneers won only two playoff rounds. In 1989, Gill signed with Philadelphia, where he got as far as the Eastern Conference Finals in 1995.

Antero Parvainen, G, PHI, MIL, 1980-1996

In 1980, Antero Parvainen became the first goaltender in PHL history to be selected first overall. Projected to be Philadelphia’s first great goaltender since David Zimmer, Parvainen did not disappoint. In his first season, Parvainen backstopped the Redshirts into the playoffs after a three-year absence. In the strike-shortened 1984-85 season, he led Philly to first overall in the league and ultimately to the Eastern Conference Finals, where the team was eliminated in the infamous “Ghost Game”. In 1989, Parvainen and the Redshirts finally reached the Lewis Cup Finals, where they lost to the Milwaukee Choppers. Despite his strong play in the 1995 playoffs, Parvainen was not resigned by the Redshirts and spent his final PHL season in Milwaukee, sharing the goaltending duties with rookie Matt Darwin.

Glen Childs, F, EDM, 1976-1996

Childs was the first draft pick in the history of the Edmonton Northern Lights and retires as the last remaining original player from the team’s inaugural season. Though he never quite lived up to his high draft billing, Childs proved to be a steady, hard-working winger, eventually helping Edmonton to an appearance in the Lewis Cup finals in 1993, where they lost to the Boston Bulldogs.

Olivier Meloche, DAL/MIL, DAL, 1980-1996

The son of first-generation PHL star Didier Meloche, Olivier Meloche joined the Dallas Metros in 1980 and was an instant fan-favorite with his smooth skating and skilled hands. Meloche’s popularity followed him to Milwaukee when the team relocated in 1985, where he played a valuable role in the Choppers’ back-to-back championships in the late ‘80s. In 1994, Meloche returned to Dallas to finish his career, this time as a member of the expansion Dallas Desperadoes.

Rex Hull, F, TOR, 1978-1996

Despite his lack of skill, Rex Hull’s toughness made him one of the most popular players ever to don the double blue. Hull led the Racers in penalty minutes every year from 1978 until he finally surrendered the title to Tory Partridge in 1994. Hull was selected by the Cleveland Cosmos in the 1994 expansion draft, but was immediately re-acquired by the Racers so he could finish his career where he was supposed to, in Toronto.

Notable Trades

Toronto trades F Tory Partridge to Vancouver in exchange for F Joe Tyler and F Brad Kyle.

As promised, the Racers begin to shake up their lineup in an attempt to pursue a title. Tyler leaves Vancouver after 17 seasons while the Bighorns land a top-tier power forward in Partridge.

New Orleans trades G Brent MacDonald to Los Angeles in exchange for F Aaron Pogue.

The Wizards solidify their goaltending with the addition of MacDonald, while New Orleans adds a solid prospect in Pogue.

Dallas, Detroit swap 1^st round picks, Desperadoes acquire D Luke Ferguson.

Dallas moves down in the draft to select goaltender Alexei Rolonov, Detroit gives up Ferguson to move up to third pick.

Key Free Agents

Vincent Ducharme signs new 10-year deal with Montreal worth $10 Million/year.

With the new contract, Ducharme becomes the highest-paid player in PHL history. The deal all but ensures he will retire with the Royale.

Jason Crowley signs new 9-year deal with Minnesota worth $8 Million/year.

Crowley becomes the second-richest player in league history with a deal that will see him earn over $10 Million if the Lumberjacks return to the Lewis Cup Finals.

Stuart Burns (LI) signs three-year deal with Toronto worth $7 Million/year. 

The Racers win the Stuart Burns sweepstakes as the 35-year-old Mississauga native returns home to try to win a championship after 17 seasons on Long Island.

Grant Sibley (DAL) signs five-year deal with New York worth $5 Million/year.

After two productive years in Dallas, Sibley earns a big contract and a chance to win a championship with the Civics.

Kim Brodie (DET) signs four-year deal with Long Island worth $4 Million/year.

The Concordes sign ten-year veteran Brodie to replace Stuart Burns.

Trevor Ramsey (MTL) signs three-year deal with Carolina worth $4 Million/year.

Ramsey leaves Montreal to serve as a veteran presence in Charlotte.

News

At the start of the 1995-96 season, the Professional Hockey Players Association and the PHL began negotiations for a new collective agreement. Talks did not progress much during the regular season and in May, both sides agreed to exercise one year of their option for a two year extension. The deadline was set at September 1, 1997 for both sides to come to an agreement to avoid a work stoppage. “We agreed to extend the agreement for another year in order to focus on negotiations.” Said commissioner Darryl Byrd. With player salaries skyrocketing, Byrd and the owners want to institute a salary cap to control spending and level the playing field. Meanwhile, the players wanted a lower minimum age for unrestricted free agency, increases in benefits and pension, and most of all, a financial structure that would not include a salary cap. After a hard round of negotiations in July, things looked ominous. “We’re not there yet, this could be a long road” said PHPA president Brian Hunt.

Between negotiations, Darryl Byrd began conversations with potential franchise owners. Though he had yet to make a formal announcement regarding expansion, Byrd had indicated that he would like to expand to thirty teams around the year 2000. “We’ve had some good talks, but no decisions will be made until we get the new contract in place” said Byrd. Houston, Atlanta, Portland, and Memphis are rumoured to be the main cities seeking a franchise.

One city looking for a team thought they had one at one point in 1996. Byrd, believing Olivia Poulette would be forced to sell the financially struggling Quebec Nationale, had told Atlanta that they might have an opportunity to acquire the Nationale and move them to Georgia. At the time, the Nats were in the process of a Cinderella run that brought the city together and convinced the local government to assist Poulette in financing a new arena. The new building would likely not be completed until the 2000-01 season, but Byrd insisted a new arena would need to be completed by the end of 1998, a nearly impossible deadline. In August, Byrd made a deal with the city of Atlanta that would give them the franchise if a new arena could not be secured by the deadline. Poulette responded with a lawsuit against Byrd and the PHL for interfering with her business when there was in fact a building on the way. Finally, a settlement was reached. Byrd extended his deadline to 2000, meaning the Nationale would at least survive into the new Millennium.

In other news the Ottawa Beavers officially relocated to Charlotte, NC in May after an owner’s vote to ratify the move. The Beavers will now be known as the Carolina Raiders with a logo expected to be unveiled just prior to the start of the season. The Raiders will play in the new Cube Center in downtown Charlotte, which was built in 1994. The Raiders also cleaned out their front office, hiring all new staff. Former USA National Team coach and head scout Bill Powell was hired as the team’s General Manager, while Kurt Hopkins was hired as the new Head Coach a year after being fired from Philadelphia. Meanwhile, the Winnipeg Pioneers also overhauled their front office, firing Head Coach Bruce Winter and GM Bob Garnett and replacing them with Craig Neilson and Jacques Fortune respectively. Neilson served as an executive with the Canadian Hockey Association for 13 years from 1983 to 1996, while Fortune coached the Denver Bulls form 1982-1992. 

Generals, Bighorns Unveil New Logos

Two more teams unveiled new logos and uniforms in the summer of 1996. In a decade that has already seen many rebrands for PHL clubs the Washington Generals and Vancouver Bighorns are the latest teams to overhaul their look. The Generals' new logo features the head of an eagle wearing an olive green beret, while the uniforms further enhance the Army theme with a camouflage design on the shoulders and arms. The arms also feature the team's new secondary logo, based on the US Army logo on one side and a chevron logo on the other side. "It's a great look, It'll feel like we're going into battle" said forward Rob Wentzel.

In Vancouver, the Bighorns revealed the first primary logo in modern franchise history to actually feature a Bighorn Sheep. The logo is a ram's head with a scowl on its face, ready to charge. The secondary mark features an inuksuk-style hockey player with a stick and helmet. The basic theme of the rebrand is based in Pacific indigenous art. The uniforms feature the teams updated color scheme of brick red, black, and orange with a black gradient effect on both jerseys. "We really wanted a uniform that plays into the culture of Vancouver and British Columbia" said David Smythe, the son of Bighorns owner Donald Smythe. David Smythe oversaw the entire rebrand and will soon take over control of the franchise. The logo change will coincide with the teams' move into a new downtown arena in October, 1996.

In other uniform news, the Boston Bulldogs will officially make their popular red alternate jerseys the primary road jerseys in 1996-97, while the black uniforms will remain as the team's alternate. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Lumberjacks will retire their black alternates, worn since the 1994-95 season. And finally, three teams unveiled new alternates for 1996. Long Island will wear orange jerseys with a new front-view logo, Quebec will introduce a new black uniform with the "fleur-de-goalie" logo on the front, while Pittsburgh's new alternate will feature the team's insect head secondary logo on a gold jersey with a honeycomb pattern.

1996 Lewis Cup Finals

For the third year in a row, the Lewis Cup Finals would pit a team from Quebec against a team from the American Midwest. This time, however, it would be the Minnesota Lumberjacks taking on the Quebec Nationale. The Lumberjacks were playing in their second final of the decade and hoped to claim their first title since 1979 after a disappointing loss to Long Island in 1990. Meanwhile, Quebec was hoping to complete one of the greatest Cinderella stories in PHL history. After upsetting New York, Toronto, and Washington, the Nationale had their sights set on winning their first cup in 31 years.

Nationale captain Graham Boswell provided some déjà vu in game one. Boswell was famous for scoring “The Goal”, the game seven overtime winner that gave Chicago the Lewis Cup in 1983. With game one in the 1996 final tied at one in the first overtime, Boswell went to the side of the crease and flipped a pass from rookie Marc Ledoux into the net for the winner. “Unbelievable, just like ’83!” said commentator Don Gillis after showing clips of the goals side-by-side.

Up 1-0, Quebec once again appeared to have control in a series against a superior opponent, but Minnesota was ready for game two. Superstars Pavel Vana and Jason Crowley each had a goal and two assists in a 4-2 Lumberjacks victory. “Obviously we hoped to win both games at home but we’re happy with the split” said Minnesota head coach Bob Truman. “Hopefully we can get some big wins in Quebec.” Prior to game three, a story appeared in Le Journal de Québec suggesting the Nationale could be headed to Atlanta possibly as soon as the 1997-98 season. Though owner Olivia Poulette shot down the rumour, the team felt that a strong showing at home could be critical. Fan support certainly was not an issue, as thousands of fans gathered at the Jean Lesage International Airport to welcome the team home prior to game three. Inside the Ice Palace for game three, the crowd was so loud that the TV anchors were unable to perform their pre-game interviews at rinkside. The game was close, tied 3-3 after two periods. Midway through the third period, Troy Dowdy had a big opportunity when he was hooked from behind on a breakaway and awarded a penalty shot, the first one in Lewis Cup Finals history. Dowdy attempted to deke Christian Grayson but Grayson managed to get it with his left pad, keeping the game tied. Just minutes after the penalty shot, Lumberjacks forward Greg Willis finally broke the tie with a shot from the blueline. The goal held up as the winner and Minnesota took back home ice advantage with a 4-3 win.

After allowing four goals in game three, the Nats looked to Patrick Lemoine to close the door in game four, and the 29-year-old from Laval, Quebec would not disappoint. While Anders Hendriksson, Marc Ledoux, and Rostislav Stransky each scored, Lemoine made 44 saves, holding the Lumberjacks to a single goal from Stanislav Zykov in the third period. Quebec held on to take game four and tie the series. “If we get a big road win, that will be an enormous opportunity for us” said Graham Boswell after game four. For the ‘Jacks, Jason Crowley wanted to keep his team calm. “We still have the advantage” said Crowley. “We just need to buckle down and get that win at home. I’m confident we’ll get it done.” Crowley would back his words up in game five, scoring the opening goal and assisting on Zykov’s insurance marker, while Christian Grayson earned a 37-save shutout and Minnesota now found themselves one win away from the Lewis Cup.

The Nationale remained confident prior to game six, despite the fact that the Lewis Cup would be in their building, but not for them. “This team has a lot of heart” said 15-year veteran Adrian Hubbard. “We have a fantastic crowd out there and they’ll be fueling us the whole game. We know we can win this thing.” Troy Dowdy redeemed himself after missing the penalty shot in game three when he opened the scoring in game six. Quebec led 1-0 and Patrick Lemoine was determined to maintain the lead, making one brilliant save after another. After two periods, the Lumberjacks seemed unable to solve Lemoine, until finally, defenseman Brett Zimmer blasted a hard point shot on net, beating Lemoine to tie the game. Despite losing the lead, the Quebec crowd seemed unfazed, until Greg Willis beat Lemoine again just a minute and a half later to give the ‘Jacks the lead. The building suddenly went silent, as if the fans somehow knew it was over. The Nationale had finally run out of gas. The team pulled Lemoine in a last-minute attempt to tie the game, but Jason Crowley hit the empty net before Quebec could even get another shot. The Lumberjacks piled off the bench and mobbed their captain, as well as Christian Grayson, the 24-year-old goaltender who had been spectacular in only his second playoff as a starter. Grayson even earned high praise from legendary Minnesota goaltender Bobby Sorel, who was in attendance and even joined in the celebration. “The kid was really unbelievable, one of the best performances I’ve ever seen” said Sorel.

Jason Crowley accepted the Lewis Cup from Darryl Byrd, who was booed mercilessly by the Quebec crowd. After a big year in which he led the league in goals and won playoff MVP, there was no doubt Crowley had established himself as one of the elite players of his era, while the Minnesota Lumberjacks, now with three championships, had established themselves as one of hockey’s more successful franchises.

1996 Playoffs

One of the top teams during the regular season, the Kansas City Twisters flew under the radar through much of the year, barely getting a mention in the media. “We definitely feel under recognized, maybe even a little disrespected” said captain Scott Drayton. “I think we’re at that point where this team is capable of winning a championship and I think the people who didn’t give us much credit this year will see what this team is really about.” The Twisters faced adversity almost immediately, facing the California Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs. After winning game one, the Twisters dropped games two and three to a Nuggets team equally desperate to prove themselves. Game four in San Francisco was a virtual must-win for Kansas City. California took an early 1-0 lead on a goal from Ali Leino, but Jason Lind stood tall in the Twisters’ net, refusing to allow the Nuggets to take a 2-goal lead. Finally, spurred by the performance of their goaltender, the Twisters tied it on a big goal from Brett Delaney. A pair of quick goals in the third from Travis Watson and Blair Horton went on to win the game for Kansas City to tie the series. Heading back to KC for game five, Nuggets captain Kevin Hoyle talked about the pressure he felt to deliver ten years after being selected 6^th overall in the stack 1986 draft. “I’ve been in this league for a decade now and I’ve played in eight playoff games, including this series. It’s time for this team to take that next step.” Hoyle backed his words up in game five, scoring what proved to be the winner while Brad Pope made 38 saves to give California a 3-2 lead and a chance to win their first playoff series since 1983.

Game six would be a higher-scoring affair than the rest of the series had been, with a six goal explosion in the first period that left the teams tied at 3-3. The scoring slowed down in the second period, with Dave Mack’s goal near the end of the period giving Kansas City a 4-3 lead. The lead held until a minute remaining in the third period, when California pulled Pope for the extra attacker. The tactic worked as Pope’s younger brother Matt tied the game for the Nuggets. After leading throughout the second half of the game, the Twisters were now just one bounce away from elimination. The hero would emerge in the form of a 35-year-old veteran playing his first season in Kansas City. Just seven minutes into the first overtime, Drayton hit Dave Mack with a stretch pass, springing Mack on a breakaway. Mack made no mistake, beating Pope for the winner to send it to game seven. Game seven would go to overtime as well, though this time it would not end near as quickly. Both Jason Lind and Brad Pope were seemingly unbeatable through three extra periods as the game went beyond midnight local time. Three minutes into the fourth overtime, there was a scramble in front of the California net. Brett Delaney dug the puck out and threw a pass to Mack, who buried it for his second consecutive overtime winner to eliminate the Nuggets. The Kansas City crowd erupted, as did a large crowd in downtown Halifax, thrilled to see their former hometown hero play a big role in the playoffs once again.

Elsewhere in the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Wizards avenged their 1995 loss to the Edmonton Northern Lights, defeating them in six games. The Northern Lights were forced to play without their captain and top defenseman in game six, as Dwayne Ingram was suspended for one game for an elbow to the head of Kay Swafford in game five. “Justice was served if you ask me” said Wizards GM Stuart Holly. “Ingram is a bully, he’s the dirtiest player in the game.” For perhaps the first time in his 16-year career, Ingram did show remorse after the series. “I crossed the line and ultimately cost my team” said the 36-year-old. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Lumberjacks defeated the Calgary Wranglers in six games, while Chicago swept the Denver Bulls.

In the east, New York entered their first-round series with Quebec as very heavy favorites. “If they could win this in three straight that would be my prediction” said analyst Ricky Sherman. Game one was a stunner, as the Nationale jumped to a 4-0 lead, ultimately winning 4-1. “We were overconfident” said head coach Bruce Irvine. “we’ll be ready next game.” The Civics certainly looked better in game two, holding Quebec to a 2-2 tie throughout the game while they drastically outplayed them. But Nationale goaltender Patrick Lemoine stood firm, turning away several big scoring chances as the game went into overtime. Overtime lasted just 19 seconds before Troy Dowdy beat New York goalie Jason Wyley for the win to give Quebec a 2-0 lead. The sellout crowd at Broadway house was stunned, the Civics were now in a bad spot, needing to win twice in Quebec to stay alive. After dropping game three on the road, the Civics now faced a 3-0 deficit and a must-win game in Quebec. The Civics put up a valiant effort, at one point leading game four 3-2. Unfortunately for the Civics, Rostislav Stransky tied the game to send it into overtime, where Graham Boswell proved to be the hero, scoring late in the first overtime to complete the sweep and the upset. “I can’t believe we’re done, just like that” said Civics’ defenseman Lamar Jackson.

The rest of the Eastern Conference series' went as expected. Washington defeated Pittsburgh, Toronto beat Miami, and Montreal eliminated Boston, all in five games.

After a first round that went mostly as expected, the post-season spun out of control in round two, as both Chicago and Montreal were upset by Kansas City and Washington respectively to ensure there would be a new matchup for the Finals for the first time since 1993. The team expected to win it all now was the Los Angeles Wizards, who faced a tough series with Minnesota. The Wizards won the first two games at home, but dropped games three and four as the series evened out to a 2-2 split. Game five was pivotal and the Wizards would not let down their home fans, taking a 3-2 win on an OT goal from Jarkko Turunen. LA now had a chance to take the series with a 3-2 lead. Game six would also go to overtime with the Lumberjacks facing elimination. Kay Swafford, playing his first game since suffering a concussion from the Ingram elbow in round one, nearly ended the series when he was sprung on a breakaway, but was turned away by Lumberjacks’ goaltender Christian Grayson. About six minutes later, Pavel Vana finally ended the game with a rebound goal to force game seven. Game seven nearly went into overtime as well, tied 3-3 in the dying seconds, when Greg Willis stunned the Wizards with a big goal to give Minnesota the lead with just four seconds left. It was a devastating loss for Los Angeles while Minnesota advanced to the Western Conference Finals.

The biggest upset of the second round was once again the emerging Cinderella story for the ages in Quebec City. The Nationale stunned the Toronto Racers game one with an OT goal from veteran Jeff Nolan and the team never looked back. When Quebec won game two 4-2, suddenly the hockey world had to take notice. The 7^th-place Nationale had swept the Civics, and now had the championship-calibre Racers on the ropes. One goal was all that was needed in game three, as Lemoine’s 63-save performance went down as one of the best of all time as Quebec took a stranglehold on the series with a 1-0 win. The Racers never got into game four, as Quebec won 4-1 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 14 years. In Toronto, after yet another disappointment, GM Bobby Kitchen went off on his players. “Absolutely there will be changes, probably big ones” said an irate Kitchen. “I don’t know what the excuse is. We changed the coach, we’ve adjusted things from a front-office perspective, it’s on the players now and I hate to say it but they let us down.”

Next up for Quebec would be Jake Borman, Igor Zharkov, and the Washington Generals. The series with Washington would prove to be their toughest yet. After winning game one 4-1, the Nationale sustained their first loss of the playoffs in game two, a 4-2 victory for the Generals. Entering game five, the series was tied 2-2. Washington jumped ahead early, with goals from Zharkov and Rob Wentzel to make it 2-0. But Quebec was unfazed, storming back with four goals in the third period including two from Rostislav Stransky to take a 4-2 win and a 3-2 series lead. With their backs against the wall in game six, Washington played their best game of the series. The Generals managed to stay one step ahead of the Nats all game long, while Zharkov scored two goals including the winner in a 3-2 win to force a seventh and deciding game in DC. The Generals simply seemed to run out of gas in game seven. Stransky, Dowdy, and Tim Craft all scored while Lemoine earned a shutout. The Quebec Nationale were on their way to the Lewis Cup Finals for the first time since 1970. “This is really unbelievable” said team captain Graham Boswell. “This was certainly our goal from the start of the year, but to actually get here feels surreal. We have a lot of work left to do though and we want to stay focused.”

For the right to face Quebec for the championship, the Kansas City Twisters faced the Minnesota Lumberjacks in the Western Conference Finals. Though Kansas City were considered to be slight favorites in the series, nobody was willing to count out the Lumberjacks, whose captain, Jason Crowley, was enjoying a career season. Crowley made a strong statement in game one, scoring a hat-trick in a 3-1 Minnesota win. In game two, Travis Watson responded with a two-goal effort as Kansas City tied the series. After a 4-3 overtime win for Minnesota followed by a Jason Lind shutout in game four, the teams were tied 2-2. Kansas City knew game five would be critical. “We can’t go back to their building down like that” said Dave Mack. “Everyone is going to have to dig deep and come up with a big win here tonight.” Mack would attempt to back up his words, scoring the Twisters’ only goal in game five, but it would not be enough as Crowley and Simon Brassard each scored in a 2-1 Lumberjacks victory. Facing elimination in game six, the Twisters came out strong, taking a 2-0 lead early on thanks to goals from Drayton and Delaney, but once again it would not be enough, as the Lumberjacks scored twice in the second period and twice again in the third. Despite the loss, the Twisters in reaching the conference finals had finally proven themselves as legitimate contenders. Meanwhile, The Minnesota Lumberjacks, six years after their disappointing loss to Long Island, would return to the Lewis Cup Finals with an opportunity to claim their third championship in franchise history.