Wikipedia

2002–03 WHL season

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.

2002–03 WHL season
LeagueWestern Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Number of teams19
Regular season
Scotty Munro Memorial TrophyKelowna Rockets (1)
Season MVPJosh Harding (Regina Pats)
Top scorerErik Christensen (Kamloops Blazers)
Playoffs
Playoffs MVPJesse Schultz (Rockets)
Finals championsKelowna Rockets (1)
  Runners-upRed Deer Rebels
WHL seasons
2002–03 CHL season
LeagueCanadian Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Number of teams55
OHL
QMJHL
WHL
Memorial Cup
Finals championsKitchener Rangers (OHL) (2nd title)
  Runners-upHull Olympiques (QMJHL)

Regular season

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Final standings

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Eastern Conference

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East Division GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA
x Brandon Wheat Kings 72 43 17 9 3 98 258 187
x Moose Jaw Warriors 72 36 22 11 3 86 266 208
x Saskatoon Blades 72 40 27 5 0 85 234 205
x Regina Pats 72 25 28 14 5 69 171 217
Prince Albert Raiders 72 27 37 3 5 62 185 258
Central Division GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA
x Red Deer Rebels 72 50 17 3 2 105 271 160
x Swift Current Broncos 72 38 24 7 3 86 240 215
x Medicine Hat Tigers 72 29 34 2 7 67 278 314
x Calgary Hitmen 72 27 36 7 2 63 240 260
Lethbridge Hurricanes 72 28 39 2 3 61 236 303

Western Conference

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B.C. Division GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA
x Kelowna Rockets 72 51 14 6 1 109 311 164
x Kamloops Blazers 72 39 27 5 1 84 261 222
x Kootenay Ice 72 36 25 6 5 83 234 202
x Vancouver Giants 72 26 37 5 4 61 217 292
x Prince George Cougars 72 26 41 3 2 57 257 317
U.S. Division GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA
x Seattle Thunderbirds 72 44 22 3 3 94 280 224
x Spokane Chiefs 72 26 36 6 4 62 216 261
x Portland Winter Hawks 72 19 40 8 5 51 192 243
Tri-City Americans 72 20 44 3 5 47 240 335
  • Prince George crosses over into U.S. Division playoffs
Map of WHL, 2001–02 to 2002–03
 
 
200km
125miles
Wheat Kings
Pats
Warriors
Raiders
Blades
Broncos
Tigers
Hurricanes
Rebels
Hitmen
Ice
Chiefs
Americans
Rockets
Blazers
Thunderbirds
Winterhawks
Cougars
Giants
   East Division
   Central Division
   BC Division
   US Division

Scoring leaders

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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

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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% GAA
Kelly Guard Kelowna Rockets 53 3018 39 10 3 97 6 .911 1.93
Geoff McIntosh Brandon Wheat Kings 23 1337 12 6 4 46 2 .914 2.06
Cam Ward Red Deer Rebels 57 3367 40 13 2 118 5 .920 2.10
Jeff Glass Kootenay Ice 35 1884 15 16 2 77 4 .909 2.45
Blake Grenier Moose Jaw Warriors 41 2356 23 8 8 100 5 .911 2.55

2003 WHL Playoffs

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Conference Quarter-finals Conference Semi-finals Conference Finals WHL Championship
            
E1 Brandon 4
E4 Regina 1
C1 Red Deer 4
C3 Medicine Hat 3
E2 Moose Jaw 4
E3 Saskatoon 2
E1 Brandon 1
Eastern
C1 Red Deer 4
C1 Red Deer 4
C4 Calgary 1
E1 Brandon 4
E2 Moose Jaw 3
C2 Swift Current 0
C3 Medicine Hat 4
C1 Red Deer 2
B1 Kelowna 4
B1 Kelowna 4
B4 Vancouver 0
B1 Kelowna 4
U2 Spokane 0
B2 Kamloops 2
B3 Kootenay 4
B1 Kelowna 4
Western
U1 Seattle 1
U1 Seattle 4
B5 Prince George 1
U1 Seattle 4
B3 Kootenay 1
U2 Spokane 4
U3 Portland 3

Conference quarterfinals

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Eastern Conference

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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

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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 2OT
March 26 Kamloops 1 4 Kootenay
March 29 Kootenay 6 7 Kamloops
March 31 Kamloops 1 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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Four Broncos Memorial Trophy (Player of the Year): Josh Harding, Regina Pats
Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy (Scholastic Player of the Year): Brett Dickie, Brandon Wheat Kings
Scholastic Team of the Year: Prince Albert Raiders
Bob Clarke Trophy (Top scorer): Erik Christensen, Kamloops Blazers
Brad Hornung Trophy (Most Sportsmanlike Player): Boyd Gordon, Red Deer Rebels
Bill Hunter Trophy (Top Defenseman): Jeff Woywitka, Red Deer Rebels
Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year): Matt Ellison, Red Deer Rebels
Del Wilson Trophy (Top Goaltender): Josh Harding, Regina Pats
Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy (Coach of the Year): Marc Habscheid, Kelowna Rockets
Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy (Executive of the Year): Bruce Hamilton, Kelowna Rockets
Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy (Best regular season record): Kelowna Rockets
Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy (Top Official): Steve Kozari
St. Clair Group Trophy (Marketing/Public Relations Award): Anne-Marie Hamilton, Kelowna Rockets, and Reid Pederson, Regina Pats
Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy (Humanitarian of the Year): Ryan Craig, Brandon Wheat Kings
WHL Plus-Minus Award: Matthew Spiller, Seattle Thunderbirds
WHL Playoff Most Valuable Player: Jesse Schultz, Kelowna Rockets

All-Star Teams

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Eastern Conference
First Team Second Team
Goal Josh Harding Regina Pats Cam Ward Red Deer Rebels
Defense Jeff Woywitka Red Deer Rebels Stephen Mann Saskatoon Blades
Ian White Swift Current Broncos Nathan Paetsch Moose Jaw Warriors
Forward 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 Rebels
Western Conference
First Team Second Team
Goal Kelly Guard Kelowna Rockets Billy Thompson Prince George Cougars
Defense Tomas Slovak Kelowna Rockets Gerard Dicaire Kootenay Ice
Tomas Mojzis Seattle Thunderbirds Josh Gorges Kelowna Rockets
Forward 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

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List of first round picks in the bantam draft.
# Player Nationality WHL Team
1 Jonathan Toews (C)   Canada Tri-City Americans
2 Ben Maxwell (C)   Canada Kootenay Ice (via Lethbridge)
3 Zach Hamill (C)   Canada Everett Silvertips
4 Ryan de Pape (RW)   Canada Prince Albert Raiders
5 Sasha Golin (RW)   Canada Portland Winter Hawks
6 Tyler Swystun (C)   Canada Prince George Cougars
7 Jason Reese (LW)   United States Vancouver Giants
8 Michael Reich (C)   Canada Spokane Chiefs
9 Keegan Dansereau (RW)   Canada Calgary Hitmen
10 Trevor Glass (D)   Canada Medicine Hat Tigers
11 Logan Pyett (D)   Canada Regina Pats
12 Todd Panchyson (D)   Canada Kootenay Ice
13 Victor Bartley (D)   Canada Kamloops Blazers
14 Justin McCrae (C)   Canada Saskatoon Blades
15 Brennan Wray (C)   Canada Moose Jaw Warriors
16 Kyle Bortis (LW)   Canada Swift Current Broncos
17 George Holloway (C)   Canada Seattle Thunderbirds
18 Mike Cann (D)   Canada Brandon Wheat Kings
19 Matthew Cline (C)   Canada Red Deer Rebels
20 Craig Cuthbert (C)   Canada Kelowna Rockets

See also

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References

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  • 2005–06 WHL Guide
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