2002–03 WHL season 4448518 204513427 2008-04-09T19:02:12Z Djsasso 149061 endash per [[WP:MOSDASH]] using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]] The '''2002–03 WHL season''' was the 37th season for the [[Western Hockey League]]. 19 teams completed a 72 game season. The [[Kelowna Rockets]] won the [[President's Cup (WHL)|President's Cup]]. ==Regular season== ===Final standings=== ===Eastern Conference=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! width="45%" | East Division ! width="5%" | GP ! width="5%" | W ! width="5%" | L ! width="5%" | T ! width="5%" | OTL ! width="7.5%" | Pts ! width="7.5%" | GF ! width="7.5%" | 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 |- |} {| class="wikitable" |- ! width="45%" | Central Division ! width="5%" | GP ! width="5%" | W ! width="5%" | L ! width="5%" | T ! width="5%" | OTL ! width="7.5%" | Pts ! width="7.5%" | GF ! width="7.5%" | 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=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! width="45%" | B.C. Division ! width="5%" | GP ! width="5%" | W ! width="5%" | L ! width="5%" | T ! width="5%" | OTL ! width="7.5%" | Pts ! width="7.5%" | GF ! width="7.5%" | 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 |- |} {| class="wikitable" |- ! width="45%" | U.S. Division ! width="5%" | GP ! width="5%" | W ! width="5%" | L ! width="5%" | T ! width="5%" | OTL ! width="7.5%" | Pts ! width="7.5%" | GF ! width="7.5%" | 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'' {| class="wikitable" |- ! width="30%" | Player ! width="30%" | Team ! width="7.5%" | GP ! width="7.5%" | G ! width="7.5%" | A ! width="7.5%" | Pts ! width="7.5%" | 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 (ice hockey)|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; TOI = Total Ice Time; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties ; GA = Goals Against; SO = Total Shutouts; Sv% = Save Percentage; GAA = Goals Against Average'' {| border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable" |- ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="27.5%" | Player ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="27.5%" | Team ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | GP ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | TOI ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | W ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | L ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | T ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | GA ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | SO ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | Sv% ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | 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 |- |} ==WHL Playoffs== ===Conference Quarterfinals=== ====Eastern Conference==== {| cellspacing="10" | valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Brandon vs. Regina |- ! Date !! Away !! Home |- | [[March 21]] || align="right" | Regina 1 || '''3 Brandon''' |- | [[March 22]] || align="right" | '''Regina 2''' || 1 Brandon || OT |- | [[March 25]] || align="right" | '''Brandon 3''' || 1 Regina |- | [[March 26]] || align="right" | '''Brandon 2''' || 1 Regina || OT |- | [[March 28]] || align="right" | Regina 2 || '''4 Brandon''' |- |- align="center" | colspan="4" | '''''Brandon wins series 4–1''''' |} | valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Moose Jaw vs. Saskatoon |- ! Date !! Away !! Home |- | [[March 21]] || align="right" | '''Saskatoon 3''' || 0 Moose Jaw |- | [[March 22]] || align="right" | Saskatton 4 || '''5 Moose Jaw''' |- | [[March 25]] || align="right" | Moose Jaw 3 || '''5 Saskatoon''' |- | [[March 26]] || align="right" | '''Moose Jaw 3''' || 2 Saskatoon || OT |- | [[March 29]] || align="right" | Saskatoon 1 || '''3 Moose Jaw''' |- | [[March 31]] || align="right" | '''Moose Jaw 5''' || 3 Saskatoon |- |- align="center" | colspan="4" | '''''Moose Jaw wins series 4–2''''' |} |- | valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Red Deer vs. Calgary |- ! Date !! Away !! Home |- | [[March 21]] || align="right" | Calgary 0 || '''2 Red Deer''' |- | [[March 22]] || align="right" | Calgary 2 || '''3 Red Deer''' |- | [[March 25]] || align="right" | '''Red Deer 4''' || 2 Calgary |- | [[March 26]] || align="right" | Red Deer 1 || '''2 Calgary''' |- | [[March 29]] || align="right" | Calgary 3 || '''4 Red Deer''' |- align="center" | colspan="4" | '''''Red Deer wins series 4–1''''' |} | valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Swift Current vs. Medicine Hat |- ! Date !! Away !! Home |- | [[March 21]] || align="right" | '''Medicine Hat 3''' || 2 Swift Current || OT |- | [[March 22]] || align="right" | '''Medicine Hat 4''' || 2 Swift Current |- | [[March 25]] || align="right" | Swift Current 3 || '''6 Medicine Hat''' |- | [[March 26]] || align="right" | Swift Current 1 || '''7 Medicine Hat''' |- align="center" | colspan="4" | '''''Medicine Hat wins series 4–0''''' |} |} ====Western Conference==== {| cellspacing="10" | valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Kelowna vs. Vancouver |- ! Date !! Away !! Home |- | [[March 22]] || align="right" | Vancouver 0 || '''10 Kelowna''' |- | [[March 23]] || align="right" | Vancouver 3 || '''4 Kelowna''' || 2OT |- | [[March 26]] || align="right" | '''Kelowna 2''' || 0 Vancouver |- | [[March 27]] || align="right" | '''Kelowna 8''' || 2 Vancouver |- align="center" | colspan="4" | '''''Kelowna wins series 4–0''''' |} | valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Kamloops vs. Kootenay |- ! Date !! Away !! Home |- | [[March 21]] || align="right" | '''Kootenay 2''' || 1 Kamloops || OT |- | [[March 22]] || align="right" | Kootenay 0 || '''1 Kamloops''' |- | [[March 25]] || align="right" | Kamloops 2 || '''3 Kootenay''' || 2OT |- | [[March 26]] || align="right" | Kamloops 1 || '''4 Kootenay''' |- | [[March 29]] || align="right" | Kootenay 6 || '''7 Kamloops''' |- | [[March 31]] || align="right" | Kamloops 1 || '''2 Kootenay''' | 2OT |- align="center" | colspan="4" | '''''Kootenay wins series 4–2''''' |} |- | valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Seattle vs. Prince George |- ! Date !! Away !! Home |- | [[March 22]] || align="right" | Prince George 1 || '''4 Seattle''' |- | [[March 23]] || align="right" | Prince George 3 || '''7 Seattle''' |- | [[March 26]] || align="right" | Seattle 2 || '''4 Prince George''' |- | [[March 27]] || align="right" | '''Seattle 3''' || 1 Prince George |- | [[March 29]] || align="right" | Prince George 3 || '''4 Seattle''' |- align="center" | colspan="4" | '''''Seattle wins series 4–1''''' |} | valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Spokane vs. Portland |- ! Date !! Away !! Home |- | [[March 21]] || align="right" | Spokane 2 || '''4 Portland''' |- | [[March 23]] || align="right" | Spokane 1 || '''3 Portland''' |- | [[March 26]] || align="right" | Portland 3 || '''4 Spokane''' || OT |- | [[March 28]] || align="right" | '''Portland 2''' || 1 Spokane || 2OT |- | [[March 29]] || align="right" | Portland 3 || '''8 Spokane''' |- | [[March 31]] || align="right" | '''Spokane 3''' || 2 Portland || OT |- | [[April 2]] || align="right" | Portland 2 || '''4 Spokane''' |- align="center" | colspan="4" | '''''Spokane wins series 4–3''''' |} |} ===Conference semifinals=== {| cellspacing="10" ! colspan="2" | Eastern Conference |- | valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Red Deer vs. Medicine Hat |- ! Date !! Away !! Home |- | [[April 4]] || align="right" | Medicine Hat 2 || '''6 Red Deer''' |- | [[April 5]] || align="right" | Medicine Hat 0 || '''3 Red Deer''' |- | [[April 8]] || align="right" | Red Deer 3 || '''4 Medicine Hat''' |- | [[April 9]] || align="right" | Red Deer 3 || '''6 Medicine Hat''' |- | [[April 11]] || align="right" | Medicine Hat 2 || '''4 Red Deer''' |- | [[April 13]] || align="right" | Red Deer 2 || '''3 Medicine Hat''' || 2OT |- | [[April 15]] || align="right" | Medicine Hat 1 || '''5 Red Deer''' |- align="center" | colspan="4" | '''''Red Deer wins series 4–3''''' |} | valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Brandon vs. Moose Jaw |- ! Date !! Away !! Home |- | [[April 4]] || align="right" | Brandon 2 || '''3 Moose Jaw''' |- | [[April 5]] || align="right" | '''Brandon 2''' || 1 Moose Jaw |- | [[April 9]] || align="right" | '''Moose Jaw 5''' || 3 Brandon |- | [[April 11]] || align="right" | Moose Jaw 1 || '''4 Brandon''' |- | [[April 12]] || align="right" | Moose Jaw 1 || '''2 Brandon''' |- | [[April 14]] || align="right" | Brandon 6 || '''7 Moose Jaw''' || OT |- | [[April 16]] || align="right" | Moose Jaw 3 || '''7 Brandon''' |- align="center" | colspan="4" | '''''Brandon wins series 4–3''''' |} |} {| cellspacing="10" ! colspan="2" | Western Conference |- | valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Kelowna vs. Spokane |- ! Date !! Away !! Home |- | [[April 4]] || align="right" | Spokane 1 || '''6 Kelowna''' |- | [[April 5]] || align="right" | Spokane 1 || '''5 Kelowna''' |- | [[April 9]] || align="right" | '''Kelowna 4''' || 1 Spokane |- | [[April 11]] || align="right" | '''Kelowna 4''' || 3 Spokane || OT |- align="center" | colspan="4" | '''''Kelowna wins series 4–0''''' |} | valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Seattle vs. Kootenay |- ! Date !! Away !! Home |- | [[April 5]] || align="right" | Kootenay 2 || '''4 Seattle''' |- | [[April 7]] || align="right" | Kootenay 0 || '''4 Seattle''' |- | [[April 9]] || align="right" | '''Seattle 5''' || 0 Kootenay |- | [[April 10]] || align="right" | Seattle 1 || '''2 Kootenay''' || 2OT |- | [[April 12]] || align="right" | Kootenay 1 || '''2 Seattle''' || OT |- align="center" | colspan="4" | '''''Seattle wins series 4–1''''' |} |} ===Conference finals=== {| cellspacing="10" ! Eastern Conference !! Western Conference |- | valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Red Deer vs. Brandon |- ! Date !! Away !! Home |- | [[April 18]] || align="right" | Brandon 1 || '''5 Red Deer''' |- | [[April 19]] || align="right" | Brandon 0 || '''2 Red Deer''' |- | [[April 22]] || align="right" | '''Red Deer 5''' || 1 Brandon |- | [[April 23]] || align="right" | Red Deer 1 || '''2 Brandon''' |- | [[April 25]] || align="right" | Brandon 1 || '''3 Red Deer''' |- align="center" | colspan="4" | '''''Red Deer wins series 4–1''''' |} | valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Kelowna vs. Seattle |- ! Date !! Away !! Home |- | [[April 18]] || align="right" | Seattle 4 || '''5 Kelowna''' |- | [[April 19]] || align="right" | Seattle 3 || '''6 Kelowna''' |- | [[April 22]] || align="right" | Kelowna 2 || '''3 Seattle''' || 2OT |- | [[April 23]] || align="right" | '''Kelowna 4''' || 0 Seattle |- | [[April 25]] || align="right" | Seattle 2 || '''4 Kelowna''' |- align="center" | colspan="4" | '''''Kelowna wins series 4–1''''' |} |} ===WHL Championship=== {| cellspacing="10" |- | valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Kelowna vs. Red Deer |- ! Date !! Away !! Home |- | [[May 2]] || align="right" | Red Deer 1 || '''5 Kelowna''' |- | [[May 3]] || align="right" | Red Deer 2 || '''5 Kelowna''' |- | [[May 5]] || align="right" | Kelowna 2 || '''6 Red Deer''' |- | [[May 6]] || align="right" | Kelowna 1 || '''2 Red Deer''' |- | [[May 8]] || align="right" | Red Deer 2 || '''5 Kelowna''' |- | [[May 10]] || align="right" | '''Kelowna 2''' || 0 Red Deer |- align="center" | colspan="4" | '''''Kelowna wins series 4–2''''' |} ==All-Star Game== On [[November 12]], the WHL Eastern All-stars defeated the [[Quebec Major Junior Hockey League|QMJHL]] Lebel All-Stars 5–2 at [[Hull, Quebec]] before a crowd of 2194. On [[November 19]], the WHL Western All-stars defeated the [[Ontario Hockey League|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== {| cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" |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 (WHL)|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]] |} ==2003 Bantam draft== :''List of first round picks in the bantam draft.'' {| border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable" |- ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="2.75%" | # ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="22.0%" | Player ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="16.5%" | Nationality ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="24.0%" | WHL Team |- | 1 | [[Jonathan Toews]] (C) | {{CAN}} | [[Tri-City Americans]] |- | 2 | [[Ben Maxwell]] (C) | {{CAN}} | [[Kootenay Ice]] (via Lethbridge) |- | 3 | [[Zach Hamill]] (C) | {{CAN}} | [[Everett Silvertips]] |- | 4 | Ryan De Pape (RW) | {{CAN}} | [[Prince Albert Raiders]] |- | 5 | Sasha Golin (RW) | {{CAN}} | [[Portland Winter Hawks]] |- | 6 | Taylor Swyston (C) | {{CAN}} | [[Prince George Cougars]] |- | 7 | Jason Reese (LW) | {{USA}} | [[Vancouver Giants]] |- | 8 | Michael Reich (C) | {{CAN}} | [[Spokane Chiefs]] |- | 9 | Keegan Dansereau (RW) | {{CAN}} | [[Calgary Hitmen]] |- | 10 | Trevor Glass (D) | {{CAN}} | [[Medicine Hat Tigers]] |- | 11 | Logan Pyett (D) | {{CAN}} | [[Regina Pats]] |- | 12 | Todd Panchyson (D) | {{CAN}} | [[Kootenay Ice]] |- | 13 | Victor Bartley (D) | {{CAN}} | [[Kamloops Blazers]] |- | 14 | Justin McCrae (C) | {{CAN}} | [[Saskatoon Blades]] |- | 15 | Brennan Wray (C) | {{CAN}} | [[Moose Jaw Warriors]] |- | 16 | Kyle Bortis (LW) | {{CAN}} | [[Swift Current Broncos]] |- | 17 | George Holloway (C) | {{CAN}} | [[Seattle Thunderbirds]] |- | 18 | Mike Cann (D) | {{CAN}} | [[Brandon Wheat Kings]] |- | 19 | Matthew Cline (C) | {{CAN}} | [[Red Deer Rebels]] |- | 20 | Craig Cuthbert (C) | {{CAN}} | [[Kelowna Rockets]] |} ==See also== *[[2003 Memorial Cup]] *[[2003 NHL Entry Draft]] *[[2002 in sports]] *[[2003 in sports]] ==References== *[http://www.whl.ca whl.ca] * 2005–06 WHL Guide {{start box}} {{succession box | before = [[2001–02 WHL season]] | after = [[2003–04 WHL season]] | title = [[List of WHL seasons|WHL seasons]] | years = | }} {{end box}} [[Category:2002 in ice hockey|WHL]] [[Category:2003 in ice hockey|WHL]] [[Category:Western Hockey League seasons]]