2003–04 WHL season

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2003–04 WHL season was the 38th season for the Western Hockey League. Twenty teams completed a 72-game season. The Medicine Hat Tigers won the President's Cup, while the host Kelowna Rockets won the Memorial Cup.

League notes[]

  • The Everett Silvertips joined the WHL as its 20th franchise, playing in the U.S. Division of the western Conference.
  • The playoff crossover if the 5th-place team in the B.C. Division finished ahead of the 4th-place team in the U.S. division was discontinued. The top four teams in each division qualified for the playoffs.
  • The 2003–04 season became a historic one for the WHL. The Everett Silvertips, the league's newest franchise, broke 10 junior hockey expansion team records, including winning both a division title and conference title in the team's first season. The Silvertips also became the first expansion team in WHL history to win a playoff series against the league's top team in the regular season, defeating the regular-season champions and reigning WHL champions Kelowna Rockets in seven games after falling behind 3–1 in the Western Conference Finals before winning three straight games in overtime, becoming the first junior hockey expansion team to win a conference title.

Regular season[]

Final standings[]

Eastern Conference[]

East Division GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA
x Moose Jaw Warriors 72 41 22 8 1 91 209 172
x Prince Albert Raiders 72 38 23 6 5 87 215 186
x Brandon Wheat Kings 72 28 32 9 3 68 230 224
x Regina Pats 72 24 37 7 4 59 155 232
Saskatoon Blades 72 7 52 11 2 27 140 279
Central Division GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA
x Medicine Hat Tigers 72 40 20 9 3 92 277 216
x Red Deer Rebels 72 35 22 10 5 85 167 169
x Calgary Hitmen 72 34 24 8 6 82 220 187
x Swift Current Broncos 72 36 29 7 0 79 234 209
Lethbridge Hurricanes 72 27 28 10 7 71 196 203

Western Conference[]

B.C. Division GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA
x Kelowna Rockets 72 47 21 4 0 98 185 125
x Vancouver Giants 72 33 24 9 6 81 215 196
x Kamloops Blazers 72 34 28 8 2 78 192 192
x Kootenay Ice 72 32 30 7 3 74 183 200
Prince George Cougars 72 30 34 7 1 68 214 236
U.S. Division GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA
x Everett Silvertips 72 35 27 8 2 80 157 153
x Portland Winter Hawks 72 34 29 6 3 77 199 206
x Tri-City Americans 72 31 27 10 4 76 199 206
x Spokane Chiefs 72 32 29 4 7 75 200 215
Seattle Thunderbirds 72 24 31 8 9 65 192 198

Scoring leaders[]

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

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Tyler Redenbach Swift Current Broncos 71 31 74 105 52
Jeremy Williams Swift Current Broncos 68 52 49 101 82
Kyle Brodziak Moose Jaw Warriors 70 39 54 93 58
Brad Schell Spokane Chiefs 71 35 57 92 47
Medicine Hat Tigers 64 33 59 92 80
Chad Klassen Spokane Chiefs 72 35 56 91 67
Prince Albert Raiders 72 50 40 90 53
Eric Fehr Brandon Wheat Kings 71 40 34 84 129
Adam Courchaine Vancouver Giants 70 39 43 82 34
Darren Reid Medicine Hat Tigers 67 33 48 81 194

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 Guard Kelowna Rockets 62 3651 44 14 4 95 13 .925 1.56
Everett Silvertips 48 2684 24 15 5 89 3 .925 1.99
Cam Ward Red Deer Rebels 56 3338 31 16 8 114 4 .926 2.05
Mike Brodeur Moose Jaw Warriors 41 2385 23 12 5 84 4 .929 2.11
Mike Wall Prince George/Everett 36 1716 12 13 3 65 2 .920 2.27

2004 WHL Playoffs[]

Conference Quarter-finals Conference Semi-finals Conference Finals WHL Championship
            
E1 Moose Jaw 4
E4 Regina 0
C1 Medicine Hat 4
E3 Brandon 1
E2 Prince Albert 2
E3 Brandon 4
C1 Medicine Hat 4
Eastern
C2 Red Deer 2
C1 Medicine Hat 4
C4 Swift Current 1
E1 Moose Jaw 2
C2 Red Deer 4
C2 Red Deer 4
C3 Calgary 3
C1 Medicine Hat 4
U1 Everett 0
B1 Kelowna 4
B4 Kootenay 0
B1 Kelowna 4
U3 Tri-City 2
B2 Vancouver 4
B3 Kamloops 1
U1 Everett 4
Western
B1 Kelowna 3
U1 Everett 4
U4 Spokane 0
U1 Everett 4
B2 Vancouver 2
U2 Portland 1
U3 Tri-City 4

Conference quarterfinals[]

Eastern Conference[]

Moose Jaw vs. Regina
Date Away Home
March 19 Regina 0 3 Moose Jaw
March 20 Regina 2 4 Moose Jaw
March 23 Moose Jaw 5 1 Regina
March 25 Moose Jaw 4 1 Regina
Moose Jaw wins series 4–0
Prince Albert vs. Brandon
Date Away Home
March 18 Brandon 3 2 Prince Albert OT
March 19 Brandon 1 5 Prince Albert
March 23 Prince Albert 1 3 Brandon
March 24 Prince Albert 2 3 Brandon
March 26 Brandon 2 6 Prince Albert
March 29 Prince Albert 1 4 Brandon
Brandon wins series 4–2
Medicine Hat vs. Swift Current
Date Away Home
March 19 Swift Current 0 3 Medicine Hat
March 20 Swift Current 2 4 Medicine Hat
March 23 Medicine Hat 2 4 Swift Current
March 24 Medicine Hat 4 2 Swift Current
March 26 Swift Current 0 8 Medicine Hat
Medicine Hat wins series 4–1
Red Deer vs. Calgary
Date Away Home
March 19 Calgary 0 4 Red Deer
March 20 Calgary 3 4 Red Deer 2OT
March 23 Red Deer 0 2 Calgary
March 25 Red Deer 4 1 Calgary
March 27 Calgary 3 1 Red Deer
March 30 Red Deer 0 3 Calgary
March 31 Calgary 2 4 Red Deer
Red Deer wins series 4–3

Western Conference[]

Kelowna vs. Kootenay
Date Away Home
March 19 Kootenay 3 5 Kelowna
March 20 Kootenay 1 4 Kelowna
March 23 Kelowna 4 0 Kootenay
March 24 Kelowna 3 1 Kootenay
Kelowna wins series 4–0
Vancouver vs. Kamloops
Date Away Home
March 19 Kamloops 2 1 Vancouver
March 20 Kamloops 2 4 Vancouver
March 23 Vancouver 2 1 Kamloops
March 24 Vancouver 5 3 Kamloops
March 27 Kamloops 4 5 Vancouver OT
Vancouver wins series 4–1
Everett vs. Spokane
Date Away Home
March 19 Spokane 1 2 Everett OT
March 20 Spokane 0 3 Everett
March 23 Everett 5 4 Spokane OT
March 24 Everett 3 0 Spokane
Everett wins series 4–0
Portland vs Tri-City
Date Away Home
March 19 Tri-City 4 2 Portland
March 21 Tri-City 1 2 Portland OT
March 23 Portland 1 4 Tri-City
March 24 Portland 2 3 Tri-City
March 26 Tri-City 3 1 Portland
Tri-City wins series 4–1

Conference semifinals[]

Eastern Conference
Medicine Hat vs. Brandon
Date Away Home
April 2 Brandon 1 5 Medicine Hat
April 3 Brandon 2 4 Medicine Hat
April 6 Medicine Hat 5 3 Brandon
April 7 Medicine Hat 3 9 Brandon
April 9 Brandon 1 4 Medicine Hat
Medicine Hat wins series 4–1
Moose Jaw vs. Red Deer
Date Away Home
April 2 Red Deer 4 3 Moose Jaw
April 3 Red Deer 3 2 Moose Jaw
April 6 Moose Jaw 4 2 Red Deer
April 7 Moose Jaw 2 1 Red Deer OT
April 9 Red Deer 2 1 Moose Jaw 2OT
April 11 Moose Jaw 0 Red Deer 3
Red Deer wins series 4–2
Western Conference
Kelowna vs. Tri-City
Date Away Home
April 2 Tri-City 3 2 Kelowna OT
April 3 Tri-City 4 3 Kelowna OT
April 6 Kelowna 4 1 Tri-City
April 7 Kelowna 4 3 Tri-City OT
April 9 Tri-City 2 7 Kelowna
April 11 Kelowna 2 1 Tri-City
Kelowna wins series 4–2
Vancouver vs Everett
Date Away Home
April 2 Everett 1 2 Vancouver
April 3 Everett 3 1 Vancouver
April 5 Vancouver 3 1 Everett
April 8 Vancouver 0 4 Everett
April 9 Everett 6 2 Vancouver
April 11 Vancouver 2 3 Everett
Everett wins series 4–2

Conference finals[]

Eastern Conference Western Conference
Medicine Hat vs Red Deer
Date Away Home
April 16 Red Deer 1 0 Medicine Hat
April 17 Red Deer 2 4 Medicine Hat
April 20 Medicine Hat 1 3 Red Deer
April 21 Medicine Hat 2 1 Red Deer
April 23 Red Deer 3 4 Medicine Hat
April 25 Medicine Hat 4 2 Red Deer
Medicine Hat wins series 4–2
Kelowna vs Everett
Date Away Home
April 16 Everett 3 2 Kelowna
April 17 Everett 1 2 Kelowna
April 20 Kelowna 2 1 Everett
April 22 Kelowna 4 3 Everett
April 24 Everett 1 0 Kelowna OT
April 26 Kelowna 1 2 Everett OT
April 27 Everett 2 1 Kelowna OT
Everett wins series 4–3

WHL Championship[]

Medicine Hat vs Everett
Date Away Home
April 30 Everett 1 4 Medicine Hat
May 1 Everett 0 3 Medicine Hat
May 4 Medicine Hat 3 0 Everett
May 5 Medicine Hat 4 2 Everett
Medicine Hat wins series 4–0

RE/Max Canada-Russia Challenge[]

On November 26, Team WHL defeated the Russian Selects 4–1 in Calgary, Alberta before a crowd of 7,844.

On November 27, Team WHL defeated the Russian Selects 7–1 in Brandon, Manitoba before a crowd of 4,908.

WHL awards[]

Player of the Year - Four Broncos Memorial Trophy: Cam Ward, Red Deer Rebels
Scholastic Player of the Year - Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy: Devan Dubnyk, Kamloops Blazers
Top Scorer - Bob Clarke Trophy: Tyler Redenbach, Swift Current Broncos
Most Sportsmanlike Player - Brad Hornung Trophy: Nigel Dawes, Kootenay Ice
Top Defenseman - Bill Hunter Trophy: Dion Phaneuf, Red Deer Rebels
Rookie of the Year - Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy: Gilbert Brule, Vancouver Giants
Top Goaltender - Del Wilson Trophy: Cam Ward, Red Deer Rebels
Coach of the Year - Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy: Kevin Constantine, Everett Silvertips
Executive of the Year - Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy: Kelly Kisio, Calgary Hitmen
Regular season Champions - Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy: Kelowna Rockets
Top Official - Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy:
Marketing/Public Relations Award - St. Clair Group Trophy: Mark Stiles, Calgary Hitmen
Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy - Braydon Coburn, Portland Winter Hawks
WHL Plus-Minus Award: Andrew Ladd, Calgary Hitmen
Playoff Most Valuable Player - airBC Trophy: Kevin Nastiuk, Medicine Hat Tigers

All-Star Teams[]

Eastern Conference
First Team Second Team
Goal Cam Ward Red Deer Rebels Prince Albert Raiders
Defense Dion Phaneuf Red Deer Rebels Derek Meech Red Deer Rebels
Mark Ardelan Prince Albert Raiders Aaron Rome Moose Jaw Warriors
Forward Kyle Brodziak Moose Jaw Warriors Tomas Fleischmann Moose Jaw Warriors
Ryan Getzlaf Calgary Hitmen Prince Albert Raiders
Jeremy Williams Swift Current Broncos Tyler Redenbach Swift Current Broncos
Western Conference
First Team Second Team
Goal Kelly Guard Kelowna Rockets Everett Silvertips
Defense Josh Gorges Kelowna Rockets Richie Regehr Portland Winter Hawks
Braydon Coburn Portland Winter Hawks Shea Weber Kelowna Rockets
Forward Adam Courchaine Vancouver Giants Brandon Dubinsky Portland Winter Hawks
Nigel Dawes Kootenay Ice Chad Klassen Spokane Chiefs
Ryan Kinasewich Tri-City Americans Brad Schell Spokane Chiefs
  • source: Western Hockey League press release

2004 Bantam Draft[]

The 2004 WHL Bantam Draft was held at the WHL's head office in Calgary on April 29, 2004.

List of first round picks in the bantam draft.
# Player Nationality WHL Team
1 Ryan Kerr (D)  Canada Prince George Cougars
2 Colton Gillies (C)  Canada Saskatoon Blades
3 Thomas Hickey (D)  Canada Seattle Thunderbirds
4 Dwight King (C)  United States Lethbridge Hurricanes
5 Brett Leffler (RW)  Canada Regina Pats
6 Brandon Sutter (RW)  Canada Red Deer Rebels (via Brandon)
7 John Negrin (D)  Canada Kootenay Ice
8 Drayson Bowman (C)  United States Spokane Chiefs
9 Joel Broda (C)  Canada Tri-City Americans
10 Colton Sceviour (RW)  Canada Portland Winter Hawks
11 Keith Aulie (D)  Canada Brandon Wheat Kings (via Kamloops)
12 Paul Postma (D)  Canada Swift Current Broncos
13 Brett Sonne (C)  Canada Calgary Hitmen (via Everett)
14 Tyson Sexsmith (G)  Canada Vancouver Giants
15 Eric Doyle (D)  Canada Everett Silvertips (via Calgary)
16 Travis Dunstall (LW)  Canada Kamloops Blazers (via Red Deer)
17 Justin Palazzo (D)  Canada Prince Albert Raiders
18 Travis Ehrhardt (D)  Canada Moose Jaw Warriors
19 Jordie Deagle (LW)  Canada Medicine Hat Tigers
20 Luke Schenn (D)  Canada Kelowna Rockets

See also[]

References[]

Preceded by WHL seasons Succeeded by
Retrieved from ""