1996 RHI season

The 1996 RHI season was the 4th regular season of the Roller Hockey International (RHI). The 1996 Murphy Cup Playoffs was played in September, 1996, with the Orlando Jackals defeating the Anaheim Bullfrogs to win their first Murphy Cup.

Events

Expansion and contraction

Four RHI franchises folded operations after the 1995 season. The Buffalo Stampede and Chicago Cheetahs folded after their second years of operation, while the Detroit Motor City Mustangs and Minnesota Blue Ox folded after their inaugural seasons.

The RHI expanded with two new franchises, a team in Denver, Colorado called the Denver Daredevils, and a team in Uniondale, New York with the Long Island Jawz, thus bringing the total number of teams to 18.

Team changes

The Phoenix Cobras were purchased and moved to Glens Falls, New York, however the Phoenix Cobras players went into a supplemental draft and the Empire State Cobras picked up the recently defunct Buffalo Stampede roster.

The Orlando Rollergators were purchased and renamed the Orlando Jackals before the season.

With the folding of the Minnesota Blue Ox franchise after the 1995 season, the Minnesota Arctic Blast rejoined the league after a one year hiatus.

All-Star Game

The RHI All-Star Game returned for its final year when the Anaheim Bullfrogs hosted the 3rd Roller Hockey International All-Star Game at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim on July 8, 1996. Anaheim hosted The All-Star Game for the first time. The West defeated the East by a score of 14-12, with Tony Szabo of the Long Island Jawz being named MVP of the game.

Regular season

Final standings

Red-shaded team had the best overall record and home-floor advantage throughout the playoffs.

Orange-shaded team clinched the other conference.

Yellow-shaded teams clinched the other two divisions.

Green-shaded teams clinched the remaining ten playoff berths.

Numbers in parentheses indicate ranking in conference. The four division winners, plus the next team in each division standings, earn playoff berths at the end of the season.

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime Losses, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

Tiebreaking Procedures

If two or more clubs are tied in points during the regular season, the standing of the clubs is determined in the following order:

1. The fewer number of games played (i.e., superior points percentage).
2. The greater number of games won.
3. The greater number of points earned in games between the tied clubs.
4. The greater differential between goals for and against.

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes

Leading goaltenders

Note: GP = Games Played; TOI = Time On Ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/Shootout Losses; GA = Goals Against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save Percentage; GAA = Goals Against Average