The 2002–03 WHL season was the 37th season for the Western Hockey League. Nineteen teams completed a 72-game season. The Kelowna Rockets won the President's Cup.
Regular season
Final standings
Eastern Conference
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
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
Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes
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
2003 WHL Playoffs
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 | 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
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
On November 12, the WHL Eastern All-Stars defeated the QMJHL Lebel All-Stars 5–2 at Hull, Quebec with a crowd of 2194.
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.
The WHL won the Hershey Cup as champion of the round robin format all-star tournament.
WHL awards
Player of the Year - Four Broncos Memorial Trophy: Josh Harding, Regina Pats |
Scholastic Player of the Year - Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy: Brett Dickie, Brandon Wheat Kings |
Top Scorer - Bob Clarke Trophy: Erik Christensen, Kamloops Blazers |
Most Sportsmanlike Player - Brad Hornung Trophy: Boyd Gordon, Red Deer Rebels |
Top Defenseman - Bill Hunter Trophy: Jeff Woywitka, Red Deer Rebels |
Rookie of the Year - Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy: Matt Ellison, Red Deer Rebels |
Top Goaltender - Del Wilson Trophy: Josh Harding, Regina Pats |
Coach of the Year - Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy: Marc Habscheid, Kelowna Rockets |
Executive of the Year - Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy: Bruce Hamilton, Kelowna Rockets |
Regular season champions - Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy: Kelowna Rockets |
Top Official - Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy: Steve Kozari |
Marketing/Public Relations Award - St. Clair Group Trophy: Anne-Marie Hamilton, Kelowna Rockets, and Reid Pederson, Regina Pats |
Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy - Ryan Craig, Brandon Wheat Kings |
WHL Plus-Minus Award: Matthew Spiller, Seattle Thunderbirds |
Playoff Most Valuable Player - airBC Trophy: Jesse Schultz, Kelowna Rockets |
All-Star Teams
- source: Western Hockey League press release
2003 Bantam draft
- List of first round picks in the bantam draft.
See also
References