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
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

Eastern Conference
East Division GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA
x Brandon Wheat Kings7243179398258187
x Moose Jaw Warriors72362211386266208
x Saskatoon Blades7240275085234205
x Regina Pats72252814569171217
Prince Albert Raiders7227373562185258
Central Division GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA
x Red Deer Rebels72501732105271160
x Swift Current Broncos7238247386240215
x Medicine Hat Tigers7229342767278314
x Calgary Hitmen7227367263240260
Lethbridge Hurricanes7228392361236303

Western Conference
B.C. Division GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA
x Kelowna Rockets72511461109311164
x Kamloops Blazers7239275184261222
x Kootenay Ice7236256583234202
x Vancouver Giants7226375461217292
x Prince George Cougars7226413257257317
U.S. Division GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA
x Seattle Thunderbirds7244223394280224
x Spokane Chiefs7226366462216261
x Portland Winter Hawks7219408551192243
Tri-City Americans7220443547240335
  • Prince George Crosses over into U.S. Division playoffs

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Erik ChristensenKamloops Blazers67545410860
Jesse SchultzKelowna Rockets72535110447
Jeremy JacksonLethbridge Hurricanes65445810283
Matt EllisonRed Deer Rebels7240569680
Chris St. JaquesMedicine Hat Tigers7031659678
Brooks LaichSeattle Thunderbirds6041539465
Jeremy WilliamsSwift Current Broncos72415293117
Dylan StanleyTri-City Americans7234599360
David BararukMoose Jaw Warriors6629649344
Nigel DawesKootenay Ice7247459254

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% GAA
Kelly GuardKelowna Rockets53301839103976.9111.93
Geoff McIntoshBrandon Wheat Kings2313371264462.9142.06
Cam WardRed Deer Rebels573367401321185.9202.10
Jeff GlassKootenay Ice35188415162774.9092.45
Blake GrenierMoose Jaw Warriors41235623881005.9112.55

2003 WHL Playoffs
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

Eastern Conference
Brandon vs. Regina
DateAwayHome
March 21Regina 13 Brandon
March 22Regina 21 BrandonOT
March 25Brandon 31 Regina
March 26Brandon 21 ReginaOT
March 28Regina 24 Brandon
Brandon wins series 4–1
Moose Jaw vs. Saskatoon
DateAwayHome
March 21Saskatoon 30 Moose Jaw
March 22Saskatoon 45 Moose Jaw
March 25Moose Jaw 35 Saskatoon
March 26Moose Jaw 32 SaskatoonOT
March 29Saskatoon 13 Moose Jaw
March 31Moose Jaw 53 Saskatoon
Moose Jaw wins series 4–2
Red Deer vs. Calgary
DateAwayHome
March 21Calgary 02 Red Deer
March 22Calgary 23 Red Deer
March 25Red Deer 42 Calgary
March 26Red Deer 12 Calgary
March 29Calgary 34 Red Deer
Red Deer wins series 4–1
Swift Current vs. Medicine Hat
DateAwayHome
March 21Medicine Hat 32 Swift CurrentOT
March 22Medicine Hat 42 Swift Current
March 25Swift Current 36 Medicine Hat
March 26Swift Current 17 Medicine Hat
Medicine Hat wins series 4–0

Western Conference
Kelowna vs. Vancouver
DateAwayHome
March 22Vancouver 010 Kelowna
March 23Vancouver 34 Kelowna2OT
March 26Kelowna 20 Vancouver
March 27Kelowna 82 Vancouver
Kelowna wins series 4–0
Kamloops vs. Kootenay
DateAwayHome
March 21Kootenay 21 KamloopsOT
March 22Kootenay 01 Kamloops
March 25Kamloops 23 Kootenay2OT
March 26Kamloops 14 Kootenay
March 29Kootenay 67 Kamloops
March 31Kamloops 12OT
Kootenay wins series 4–2
Seattle vs. Prince George
DateAwayHome
March 22Prince George 14 Seattle
March 23Prince George 37 Seattle
March 26Seattle 24 Prince George
March 27Seattle 31 Prince George
March 29Prince George 34 Seattle
Seattle wins series 4–1
Spokane vs. Portland
DateAwayHome
March 21Spokane 24 Portland
March 23Spokane 13 Portland
March 26Portland 34 SpokaneOT
March 28Portland 21 Spokane2OT
March 29Portland 38 Spokane
March 31Spokane 32 PortlandOT
April 2Portland 24 Spokane
Spokane wins series 4–3

Conference semifinals
Eastern Conference
Red Deer vs. Medicine Hat
DateAwayHome
April 4Medicine Hat 26 Red Deer
April 5Medicine Hat 03 Red Deer
April 8Red Deer 34 Medicine Hat
April 9Red Deer 36 Medicine Hat
April 11Medicine Hat 24 Red Deer
April 13Red Deer 23 Medicine Hat2OT
April 15Medicine Hat 15 Red Deer
Red Deer wins series 4–3
Brandon vs. Moose Jaw
DateAwayHome
April 4Brandon 23 Moose Jaw
April 5Brandon 21 Moose Jaw
April 9Moose Jaw 53 Brandon
April 11Moose Jaw 14 Brandon
April 12Moose Jaw 12 Brandon
April 14Brandon 67 Moose JawOT
April 16Moose Jaw 37 Brandon
Brandon wins series 4–3
Western Conference
Kelowna vs. Spokane
DateAwayHome
April 4Spokane 16 Kelowna
April 5Spokane 15 Kelowna
April 9Kelowna 41 Spokane
April 11Kelowna 43 SpokaneOT
Kelowna wins series 4–0
Seattle vs. Kootenay
DateAwayHome
April 5Kootenay 24 Seattle
April 7Kootenay 04 Seattle
April 9Seattle 50 Kootenay
April 10Seattle 12 Kootenay2OT
April 12Kootenay 12 SeattleOT
Seattle wins series 4–1

Conference finals
Eastern ConferenceWestern Conference
Red Deer vs. Brandon
DateAwayHome
April 18Brandon 15 Red Deer
April 19Brandon 02 Red Deer
April 22Red Deer 51 Brandon
April 23Red Deer 12 Brandon
April 25Brandon 13 Red Deer
Red Deer wins series 4–1
Kelowna vs. Seattle
DateAwayHome
April 18Seattle 45 Kelowna
April 19Seattle 36 Kelowna
April 22Kelowna 23 Seattle2OT
April 23Kelowna 40 Seattle
April 25Seattle 24 Kelowna
Kelowna wins series 4–1

WHL Championship
Kelowna vs. Red Deer
DateAwayHome
May 2Red Deer 15 Kelowna
May 3Red Deer 25 Kelowna
May 5Kelowna 26 Red Deer
May 6Kelowna 12 Red Deer
May 8Red Deer 25 Kelowna
May 10Kelowna 20 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 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
Eastern Conference
First TeamSecond Team
GoalJosh HardingRegina PatsCam WardRed Deer Rebels
DefenseJeff WoywitkaRed Deer RebelsStephen MannSaskatoon Blades
Ian WhiteSwift Current BroncosNathan PaetschMoose Jaw Warriors
ForwardRyan CraigBrandon Wheat KingsJeremy JacksonLethbridge Hurricanes
Jordin TootooBrandon Wheat KingsDavid BararukMoose Jaw Warriors
Boyd GordonRed Deer RebelsMatt EllisonRed Deer Rebels
Western Conference
First TeamSecond Team
GoalKelly GuardKelowna RocketsBilly ThompsonPrince George Cougars
DefenseTomas SlovakKelowna RocketsGerard DicaireKootenay Ice
Tomas MojzisSeattle ThunderbirdsJosh GorgesKelowna Rockets
ForwardErik ChristensenKamloops BlazersNigel DawesKootenay Ice
Jesse SchultzKelowna RocketsKiel McLeodKelowna Rockets
Brooks LaichSeattle ThunderbirdsAdam CourchaineVancouver 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)  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

References
  • 2005–06 WHL Guide
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