2002–03 WHL season

Junior ice hockey season August 2023 2002–03 WHL season Western Hockey League Ice hockey Playoffs WHL Playoff MVP Jesse Schultz (Rockets) Kelowna Rockets (1) Red Deer Rebels 19 Regular season Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy Kelowna Rockets (1) Four Broncos Memorial Trophy Josh Harding (Regina Pats) Bob Clarke Trophy Erik Christensen (Kamloops Blazers) WHL 2001–02 2003–04 2002–03 CHL season #4B489D #FFFFFF Canadian Hockey League Ice hockey 55 OHL QMJHL WHL Memorial Cup Kitchener Rangers (OHL) 2 Hull Olympiques (QMJHL) The 2002–03 WHL season was the 37th season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Nineteen teams completed a 72-game season. The Kelowna Rockets won both the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as the league's best regular season team and the President's Cup as playoff champion, both for the first time. The Rockets thus earned a berth in the 2003 Memorial Cup tournament. Regular season Final standings Eastern Conference main WDL OT East Division no yes yes yes no before 2 yes qualified for playoffs BRA Brandon Wheat Kings x MOO Moose Jaw Warriors x SAS Saskatoon Blades x REG Regina Pats x PRI Prince Albert Raiders 43 17 9 3 258 187 36 22 11 3 266 208 40 27 5 0 234 205 25 28 14 5 171 217 27 37 3 5 185 258 complete main WDL OT Central Division no yes yes yes no before 2 yes qualified for playoffs RED Red Deer Rebels x SWI Swift Current Broncos x MED Medicine Hat Tigers x CAL Calgary Hitmen x LET Lethbridge Hurricanes 50 17 3 2 271 160 38 24 7 3 240 215 29 34 2 7 278 314 27 36 7 2 240 260 28 39 2 3 236 303 complete Western Conference main WDL OT B.C. Division no yes yes yes no before 2 yes qualified for playoffs KEL Kelowna Rockets x KAM Kamloops Blazers x KOO Kootenay Ice x VAN Vancouver Giants x PRI Prince George Cougars x 51 14 6 1 311 164 39 27 5 1 261 222 36 25 6 5 234 202 26 37 5 4 217 292 26 41 3 2 257 317 complete Prince George crosses over into U.S. Division playoffs main WDL OT U.S. Division no yes yes yes no before 2 yes qualified for playoffs SEA Seattle Thunderbirds x SPO Spokane Chiefs x POR Portland Winter Hawks x TRI Tri-City Americans 44 22 3 3 280 224 26 36 6 4 216 261 19 40 8 5 192 243 20 44 3 5 240 335 complete Scoring leaders Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes Player Team GP G A Pts PIM Erik Christensen Kamloops Blazers 67 54 54 108 60 Jesse Schultz Kelowna Rockets 72 53 51 104 47 Jeremy Jackson Lethbridge Hurricanes 65 44 58 102 83 Matt Ellison Red Deer Rebels 72 40 56 96 80 Chris St. Jaques Medicine Hat Tigers 70 31 65 96 78 Brooks Laich Seattle Thunderbirds 60 41 53 94 65 Jeremy Williams Swift Current Broncos 72 41 52 93 117 Dylan Stanley Tri-City Americans 72 34 59 93 60 David Bararuk Moose Jaw Warriors 66 29 64 93 44 Nigel Dawes Kootenay Ice 72 47 45 92 54 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 Player Team GP Min W L T GA SO SV% GAAKelly GuardKelowna Rockets53 3018 39 10 3 97 6 .911 1.93Geoff McIntoshBrandon Wheat Kings23 1337 12 6 4 46 2 .914 2.06Cam WardRed Deer Rebels57 3367 40 13 2 118 5 .920 2.10Jeff GlassKootenay Ice35 1884 15 16 2 77 4 .909 2.45Blake GrenierMoose Jaw Warriors41 2356 23 8 8 100 5 .911 2.55 2003 WHL Playoffs Conference Quarter-finals Conference Semi-finals Conference Finals WHL Championship Eastern Western E1 Brandon 4 E4 Regina 1 E2 Moose Jaw 4 E3 Saskatoon 2 C1 Red Deer 4 C4 Calgary 1 C2 Swift Current 0 C3 Medicine Hat 4 B1 Kelowna 4 B4 Vancouver 0 B2 Kamloops 2 B3 Kootenay 4 U1 Seattle 4 B5 Prince George 1 U2 Spokane 4 U3 Portland 3 C1 Red Deer 4 C3 Medicine Hat 3 E1 Brandon 4 E2 Moose Jaw 3 B1 Kelowna 4 U2 Spokane 0 U1 Seattle 4 B3 Kootenay 1 E1 Brandon 1 C1 Red Deer 4 B1 Kelowna 4 U1 Seattle 1 C1 Red Deer 2 B1 Kelowna 4 Conference quarterfinals Eastern Conference Brandon vs. Regina Date Away Home March 21 Regina 1 3 Brandon March 22 Regina 2 1 Brandon OT March 25 Brandon 3 1 Regina March 26 Brandon 2 1 Regina OT March 28 Regina 2 4 Brandon Brandon wins series 4–1 Moose Jaw vs. Saskatoon Date Away Home March 21 Saskatoon 3 0 Moose Jaw March 22 Saskatoon 4 5 Moose Jaw March 25 Moose Jaw 3 5 Saskatoon March 26 Moose Jaw 3 2 Saskatoon OT March 29 Saskatoon 1 3 Moose Jaw March 31 Moose Jaw 5 3 Saskatoon Moose Jaw wins series 4–2 Red Deer vs. Calgary Date Away Home March 21 Calgary 0 2 Red Deer March 22 Calgary 2 3 Red Deer March 25 Red Deer 4 2 Calgary March 26 Red Deer 1 2 Calgary March 29 Calgary 3 4 Red Deer Red Deer wins series 4–1 Swift Current vs. Medicine Hat Date Away Home March 21 Medicine Hat 3 2 Swift Current OT March 22 Medicine Hat 4 2 Swift Current March 25 Swift Current 3 6 Medicine Hat March 26 Swift Current 1 7 Medicine Hat Medicine Hat wins series 4–0 Western Conference Kelowna vs. Vancouver Date Away Home March 22 Vancouver 0 10 Kelowna March 23 Vancouver 3 4 Kelowna 2OT March 26 Kelowna 2 0 Vancouver March 27 Kelowna 8 2 Vancouver Kelowna wins series 4–0 Kamloops vs. Kootenay Date Away Home March 21 Kootenay 2 1 Kamloops OT March 22 Kootenay 0 1 Kamloops March 25 Kamloops 2 3 Kootenay 4OT March 26 Kamloops 1 4 Kootenay March 29 Kootenay 6 7 Kamloops March 31 Kamloops 1 2 Kootenay 2OT Kootenay wins series 4–2 Seattle vs. Prince George Date Away Home March 22 Prince George 1 4 Seattle March 23 Prince George 3 7 Seattle March 26 Seattle 2 4 Prince George March 27 Seattle 3 1 Prince George March 29 Prince George 3 4 Seattle Seattle wins series 4–1 Spokane vs. Portland Date Away Home March 21 Spokane 2 4 Portland March 23 Spokane 1 3 Portland March 26 Portland 3 4 Spokane OT March 28 Portland 2 1 Spokane 2OT March 29 Portland 3 8 Spokane March 31 Spokane 3 2 Portland OT April 2 Portland 2 4 Spokane Spokane wins series 4–3 Conference semifinals Eastern Conference Red Deer vs. Medicine Hat Date Away Home April 4 Medicine Hat 2 6 Red Deer April 5 Medicine Hat 0 3 Red Deer April 8 Red Deer 3 4 Medicine Hat April 9 Red Deer 3 6 Medicine Hat April 11 Medicine Hat 2 4 Red Deer April 13 Red Deer 2 3 Medicine Hat 2OT April 15 Medicine Hat 1 5 Red Deer Red Deer wins series 4–3 Brandon vs. Moose Jaw Date Away Home April 4 Brandon 2 3 Moose Jaw April 5 Brandon 2 1 Moose Jaw April 9 Moose Jaw 5 3 Brandon April 11 Moose Jaw 1 4 Brandon April 12 Moose Jaw 1 2 Brandon April 14 Brandon 6 7 Moose Jaw OT April 16 Moose Jaw 3 7 Brandon Brandon wins series 4–3 Western Conference Kelowna vs. Spokane Date Away Home April 4 Spokane 1 6 Kelowna April 5 Spokane 1 5 Kelowna April 9 Kelowna 4 1 Spokane April 11 Kelowna 4 3 Spokane OT Kelowna wins series 4–0 Seattle vs. Kootenay Date Away Home April 5 Kootenay 2 4 Seattle April 7 Kootenay 0 4 Seattle April 9 Seattle 5 0 Kootenay April 10 Seattle 1 2 Kootenay 2OT April 12 Kootenay 1 2 Seattle OT Seattle wins series 4–1 Conference finals Eastern Conference Western Conference Red Deer vs. Brandon Date Away Home April 18 Brandon 1 5 Red Deer April 19 Brandon 0 2 Red Deer April 22 Red Deer 5 1 Brandon April 23 Red Deer 1 2 Brandon April 25 Brandon 1 3 Red Deer Red Deer wins series 4–1 Kelowna vs. Seattle Date Away Home April 18 Seattle 4 5 Kelowna April 19 Seattle 3 6 Kelowna April 22 Kelowna 2 3 Seattle 2OT April 23 Kelowna 4 0 Seattle April 25 Seattle 2 4 Kelowna Kelowna wins series 4–1 WHL Championship Kelowna vs. Red Deer Date Away Home May 2 Red Deer 1 5 Kelowna May 3 Red Deer 2 5 Kelowna May 5 Kelowna 2 6 Red Deer May 6 Kelowna 1 2 Red Deer May 8 Red Deer 2 5 Kelowna May 10 Kelowna 2 0 Red Deer Kelowna wins series 4–2 All-Star game All-Star festivities included a round robin between all-star squads from the three CHL leagues. On November 12, the WHL Eastern All-Stars defeated the QMJHL Lebel All-Stars 5–2 at Hull, Quebec before a crowd of 2,194. Then, on November 19, the WHL Western All-Stars defeated the OHL Eastern All-Stars 7–3 at Vancouver, British Columbia before a crowd of 7,046. With the victories, the WHL won the Hershey Cup as champion of the round robin format all-star tournament. WHL awards Four Broncos Memorial Trophy (Player of the Year): Josh Harding, Regina PatsDaryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy (Scholastic Player of the Year): Brett Dickie, Brandon Wheat KingsScholastic Team of the Year: Prince Albert RaidersBob Clarke Trophy (Top scorer): Erik Christensen, Kamloops BlazersBrad Hornung Trophy (Most Sportsmanlike Player): Boyd Gordon, Red Deer RebelsBill Hunter Trophy (Top Defenseman): Jeff Woywitka, Red Deer RebelsJim Piggott Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year): Matt Ellison, Red Deer RebelsDel Wilson Trophy (Top Goaltender): Josh Harding, Regina PatsDunc McCallum Memorial Trophy (Coach of the Year): Marc Habscheid, Kelowna RocketsLloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy (Executive of the Year): Bruce Hamilton, Kelowna RocketsScotty Munro Memorial Trophy (Best regular season record): Kelowna RocketsAllen Paradice Memorial Trophy (Top Official): Steve KozariSt. Clair Group Trophy (Marketing/Public Relations Award): Anne-Marie Hamilton, Kelowna Rockets, and Reid Pederson, Regina PatsDoug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy (Humanitarian of the Year): Ryan Craig, Brandon Wheat KingsWHL Plus-Minus Award: Matthew Spiller, Seattle ThunderbirdsWHL Playoff Most Valuable Player: Jesse Schultz, Kelowna Rockets All-Star teams Eastern Conference First Team Second Team Goal Josh Harding Regina Pats Cam Ward Red Deer RebelsDefense Jeff Woywitka Red Deer Rebels Stephen Mann Saskatoon Blades Ian White Swift Current Broncos Nathan Paetsch Moose Jaw WarriorsForward Ryan Craig Brandon Wheat Kings Jeremy Jackson Lethbridge Hurricanes Jordin Tootoo Brandon Wheat Kings David Bararuk Moose Jaw Warriors Boyd Gordon Red Deer Rebels Matt Ellison Red Deer RebelsWestern Conference First Team Second Team Goal Kelly Guard Kelowna Rockets Billy Thompson Prince George CougarsDefense Tomas Slovak Kelowna Rockets Gerard Dicaire Kootenay Ice Tomas Mojzis Seattle Thunderbirds Josh Gorges Kelowna RocketsForward Erik Christensen Kamloops Blazers Nigel Dawes Kootenay Ice Jesse Schultz Kelowna Rockets Kiel McLeod Kelowna Rockets Brooks Laich Seattle Thunderbirds Adam Courchaine Vancouver Giants source: Western Hockey League press release 2003 Bantam draft List of first round picks in the bantam draft. # Player Nationality WHL Team 1 Jonathan Toews (C) Tri-City Americans 2 Ben Maxwell (C) Kootenay Ice (via Lethbridge) 3 Zach Hamill (C) Everett Silvertips 4 Ryan de Pape (RW) Prince Albert Raiders 5 Sasha Golin (RW) Portland Winter Hawks 6 Tyler Swystun (C) Prince George Cougars 7 Jason Reese (LW) Vancouver Giants 8 Michael Reich (C) Spokane Chiefs 9 Keegan Dansereau (RW) Calgary Hitmen 10 Trevor Glass (D) Medicine Hat Tigers 11 Logan Pyett (D) Regina Pats 12 Todd Panchyson (D) Kootenay Ice 13 Victor Bartley (D) Kamloops Blazers 14 Justin McCrae (C) Saskatoon Blades 15 Brennan Wray (C) Moose Jaw Warriors 16 Kyle Bortis (LW) Swift Current Broncos 17 George Holloway (C) Seattle Thunderbirds 18 Mike Cann (D) Brandon Wheat Kings 19 Matthew Cline (C) Red Deer Rebels 20 Craig Cuthbert (C) Kelowna Rockets See also 2003 NHL entry draft 2002 in sports 2003 in sports References 2005–06 WHL Guide 2001–02 WHL season 2003–04 WHL season WHL seasons Category:Western Hockey League seasons WHL WHL