2003–04 WHL season

2003–04 CHL season
2003–04 CHL season
League	Canadian Hockey League
Sport	Ice hockey
Number of teams	56
OHL
QMJHL
WHL
Memorial Cup
Finals champions	Kelowna Rockets (WHL) (1st title)
Runners-up	Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL)

2003–04 WHL season
2003–04 WHL season
League	Western Hockey League
Sport	Ice hockey
Number of teams	20
Regular season
Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy	Kelowna Rockets (2)
Season MVP	Cam Ward (Red Deer Rebels)
Top scorer	Tyler Redenbach (Swift Current Broncos)
Playoffs
Playoffs MVP	Kevin Nastiuk (Tigers)
Finals champions	Medicine Hat Tigers (4)
Runners-up	Everett Silvertips
WHL seasons
	← 2002–03 2004–05 →

The 2003–04 WHL season was the 38th season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Twenty teams completed a 72-game season. The defending champion Kelowna Rockets won their second consecutive Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy for the best regular season record; however, they failed to defend their playoff title as the Medicine Hat Tigers won the President's Cup, their fourth in team history, defeating the expansion Everett Silvertips in the championship series. This gave Medicine Hat a berth in the 2004 Memorial Cup tournament, which, because it was hosted by Kelowna, also featured the Rockets, who went on to win the tournament.

League notes

The Everett Silvertips joined the WHL as its 20th franchise, playing in the U.S. Division of the Western Conference.^[1] The Silvertips went on to post an historic inaugural season, breaking 10 junior hockey expansion team records. This included winning both a division title and conference title, winning a playoff series against the league's top regular season team, and becoming the first junior hockey expansion team to win a conference championship.
The playoff format was simplified so that the top four teams in each division qualified for the playoffs, eliminating the possibility of cross-overs between divisions.

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
Chris St. Jaques	Medicine Hat Tigers	64	33	59	92	80
Chad Klassen	Spokane Chiefs	72	35	56	91	67
Seth Leonard	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
Jeff Harvey	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

Four Broncos Memorial Trophy (Player of the Year): Cam Ward, Red Deer Rebels

Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy (Scholastic Player of the Year): Devan Dubnyk, Kamloops Blazers

Scholastic Team of the Year: Portland Winterhawks

Bob Clarke Trophy (Top scorer): Tyler Redenbach, Swift Current Broncos

Brad Hornung Trophy (Most Sportsmanlike Player): Nigel Dawes, Kootenay Ice

Bill Hunter Trophy (Top Defenseman): Dion Phaneuf, Red Deer Rebels

Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year): Gilbert Brule, Vancouver Giants

Del Wilson Trophy (Top Goaltender): Cam Ward, Red Deer Rebels

Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy (Coach of the Year): Kevin Constantine, Everett Silvertips

Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy (Executive of the Year): Kelly Kisio, Calgary Hitmen

Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy (Best regular season record): Kelowna Rockets

Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy (Top Official): Rob Matsuoka

St. Clair Group Trophy (Marketing/Public Relations Award): Mark Stiles, Calgary Hitmen

Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy (Humanitarian of the Year): Braydon Coburn, Portland Winter Hawks

WHL Plus-Minus Award: Andrew Ladd, Calgary Hitmen

WHL Playoff Most Valuable Player: Kevin Nastiuk, Medicine Hat Tigers

All-Star Teams

Eastern Conference
	First Team		Second Team
Goal	Cam Ward	Red Deer Rebels	Rejean Beauchemin	Prince Albert Raiders
Defense	Dion Phaneuf	Red Deer Rebels	Derek Meech	Red Deer Rebels
Defense	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	Seth Leonard	Prince Albert Raiders
	Jeremy Williams	Swift Current Broncos	Tyler Redenbach	Swift Current Broncos
Western Conference
	First Team		Second Team
Goal	Kelly Guard	Kelowna Rockets	Jeff Harvey	Everett Silvertips
Defense	Josh Gorges	Kelowna Rockets	Richie Regehr	Portland Winter Hawks
Defense	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

References

2005–06 WHL Guide

Preceded by 2002–03 WHL season	WHL seasons	Succeeded by 2004–05 WHL season

^ Wade, Susan (November 22, 2002). "It's official: Everett's hockey team will be called Silvertips". The Seattle Times. p. D3. Archived from the original on March 27, 2017. Retrieved March 25, 2017.

[Times-Name2002-1] Wade, Susan (November 22, 2002). "It's official: Everett's hockey team will be called Silvertips". The Seattle Times. p. D3. Archived from the original on March 27, 2017. Retrieved March 25, 2017.

[1]

2003–04 WHL season

Contents

League notes

Regular season

Final standings

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

Scoring leaders

Goaltending leaders

2004 WHL Playoffs

Conference quarterfinals

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

Conference semifinals

Conference finals

WHL Championship

RE/Max Canada-Russia Challenge

WHL awards

All-Star Teams

2004 Bantam Draft

See also

References