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
| 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
Map of WHL, 2003–04 to 2005–06
190km
118miles
Wheat Kings
Pats
Warriors
Raiders
Blades
Broncos
Tigers
Hurricanes
Rebels
Hitmen
Ice
Chiefs
Americans
Rockets
Blazers
Silvertips
Thunderbirds
Winter Hawks
Cougars
Giants
East Division
Central Division
BC Division
US Division
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
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
(E1) Moose Jaw Warriors vs. (E4) Regina Pats
| March 19
|
Moose Jaw Warriors
|
|
3 – 0
|
|
Regina Pats
|
Moose Jaw Civic Centre
|
|
| 14:22 - Ashton Rome (1)
|
First period
|
No scoring
|
7:34 - sh - Tomáš Fleischmann (1) 14:55 - Masi Marjamäki (1)
|
Second period
|
No scoring
|
| No scoring
|
Third period
|
No scoring
|
| Mike Brodeur (19 saves / 19 shots)
|
Goalie stats
|
Dustin Slade (35 saves / 38 shots) Nick Olynyk (1 save / 1 shot)
|
| Moose Jaw wins series 4 – 0
|
|
|
|
|
(E2) Prince Albert Raiders vs. (E3) Brandon Wheat Kings
| March 18
|
Prince Albert Raiders
|
|
2 – 3
|
OT
|
Brandon Wheat Kings
|
Art Hauser Centre
|
|
| No scoring
|
First period
|
No scoring
|
10:06 - Jeremy Colliton (1) 11:07 - Justin Cruse (1)
|
Second period
|
No scoring
|
| No scoring
|
Third period
|
Tyler Boldt (1) - 13:46 Mark Shefchyk (1) - 16:46
|
| No scoring
|
First overtime period
|
Erik Christensen (1) - pp - 1:47
|
| Réjean Beauchemin (23 saves / 26 shots)
|
Goalie stats
|
Josh Harding (27 saves / 29 shots)
|
| Brandon wins series 4 – 2
|
|
|
|
|
* Note: Game 6 was played at MTS Centre in Winnipeg.
(C1) Medicine Hat Tigers vs. (C4) Swift Current Broncos
| March 19
|
Medicine Hat Tigers
|
|
3 – 0
|
|
Swift Current Broncos
|
Medicine Hat Arena
|
|
| 9:35 - Kris Russell (1)
|
First period
|
No scoring
|
| No scoring
|
Second period
|
No scoring
|
4:38 - Chris St. Jacques (1) 10:58 - pp - Clarke MacArthur (1)
|
Third period
|
No scoring
|
| Kevin Nastiuk (29 saves / 29 shots)
|
Goalie stats
|
Blake Grenier (26 saves / 29 shots)
|
| Medicine Hat wins series 4 – 1
|
|
|
|
|
(C2) Red Deer Rebels vs. (C3) Calgary Hitmen
| March 19
|
Red Deer Rebels
|
|
4 – 0
|
|
Calgary Hitmen
|
Marchant Crane Centrium
|
|
| 14:31 - Joel Henituik (1)
|
First period
|
No scoring
|
13:10 - Ladislav Kouba (1) 15:47 - pp - Colin Fraser (1)
|
Second period
|
No scoring
|
| 0:38 - pp - Shay Stephenson (1)
|
Third period
|
No scoring
|
| Cam Ward (37 saves / 37 shots)
|
Goalie stats
|
Barry Brust (28 saves / 32 shots)
|
| Red Deer wins series 4 – 3
|
|
|
|
|
Western Conference
(B1) Kelowna Rockets vs. (B4) Swift Current Broncos
| March 19
|
Kelowna Rockets
|
|
5 – 3
|
|
Kootenay Ice
|
Prospera Place
|
|
| 7:24 - Randall Gelech (1)
|
First period
|
Dale Mahovsky (1) - 10:12 Adam Cracknell (1) - pp - 17:59
|
| No scoring
|
Second period
|
Brad Cole (1) - 14:18
|
2:48 - Blake Comeau (1) 5:53 - Blake Comeau (2) 11:56 - pp - Randall Gelech (2) 19:55 - en - Blake Comeau (3)
|
Third period
|
No scoring
|
| Kelly Guard (15 saves / 18 shots)
|
Goalie stats
|
Jeff Glass (24 saves / 28 shots)
|
| March 20
|
Kelowna Rockets
|
|
4 – 1
|
|
Kootenay Ice
|
Prospera Place
|
|
| No scoring
|
First period
|
Nigel Dawes (1) - 19:20
|
8:32 - pp - Randall Gelech (3) 10:34 - pp - Justin Keller (1) 13:23 - pp - Cam Paddock (1)
|
Second period
|
No scoring
|
| 18:05 - Tyler Spurgeon (1)
|
Third period
|
No scoring
|
| Kelly Guard (10 saves / 11 shots)
|
Goalie stats
|
Jeff Glass (29 saves / 33 shots)
|
| March 23
|
Kootenay Ice
|
|
0 – 4
|
|
Kelowna Rockets
|
Cranbrook Recreational Complex
|
|
| No scoring
|
First period
|
Tyler Mosienko (1) - 3:55 Josh Gorges (1) - pp - 14:39
|
| No scoring
|
Second period
|
Randall Gelech (4) - 6:43 Randall Gelech (5) - 18:43
|
| No scoring
|
Third period
|
No scoring
|
| Jeff Glass (23 saves / 27 shots)
|
Goalie stats
|
Kelly Guard (23 saves / 23 shots)
|
| March 24
|
Kootenay Ice
|
|
1 – 3
|
|
Kelowna Rockets
|
Cranbrook Recreational Complex
|
|
| No scoring
|
First period
|
No scoring
|
| 18:45 - Igor Agarunov (1)
|
Second period
|
Tyler Mosienko (2) - 4:32
|
| No scoring
|
Third period
|
Shea Weber (1) - 7:34 Randall Gelech (6) - en - 19:34
|
| Jeff Glass (25 saves / 27 shots)
|
Goalie stats
|
Kelly Guard (23 saves / 24 shots)
|
| Kelowna wins series 4 – 0
|
|
|
|
|
(B2) Vancouver Giants vs. (B5) Kamloops Blazers
| March 19
|
Vancouver Giants
|
|
1 – 2
|
|
Kamloops Blazers
|
Pacific Coliseum
|
|
| 4:53 - Triston Grant (1)
|
First period
|
No scoring
|
| No scoring
|
Second period
|
Reid Jorgensen (1) - 11:13
|
| No scoring
|
Third period
|
Jarret Lukin (1) - 4:27
|
| Aaron Sorochan (26 saves / 28 shots)
|
Goalie stats
|
Devan Dubnyk (18 saves / 19 shots)
|
| March 20
|
Vancouver Giants
|
|
4 – 2
|
|
Kamloops Blazers
|
Pacific Coliseum
|
|
7:46 - pp - Ty Morris (1) 8:18 - Mitch Bartley (1)
|
First period
|
No scoring
|
| 13:16 - Ty Morris (2)
|
Second period
|
Jonas Johansson (1) - sh - 9:32
|
| 12:02 - Adam Courchaine (1)
|
Third period
|
Rick Kozak (1) - pp - 14:44
|
| Aaron Sorochan (31 saves / 33 shots)
|
Goalie stats
|
Devan Dubnyk (25 saves / 29 shots)
|
| Vancouver wins series 4 – 1
|
|
|
|
|
(U1) Everett Silvertips vs. (U4) Spokane Chiefs
| March 19
|
Everett Silvertips
|
|
2 – 1
|
OT
|
Spokane Chiefs
|
Everett Events Center
|
|
| No scoring
|
First period
|
No scoring
|
| No scoring
|
Second period
|
No scoring
|
| 18:14 - John Dahl (1)
|
Third period
|
Doug Auchenberg (1) - 13:49
|
| 1:07 - pp - Barry Horman (1)
|
First overtime period
|
No scoring
|
| Jeff Harvey (28 saves / 29 shots)
|
Goalie stats
|
Jim Watt (26 saves / 28 shots)
|
| March 20
|
Everett Silvertips
|
|
3 – 0
|
|
Spokane Chiefs
|
Everett Events Center
|
|
| No scoring
|
First period
|
No scoring
|
| 15:06 - Chad Bassen (1)
|
Second period
|
No scoring
|
15:33 - Chad Bassen (2) 19:40 - en - Marc Desloges (1)
|
Third period
|
No scoring
|
| Jeff Harvey (22 saves / 22 shots)
|
Goalie stats
|
Jim Watt (25 saves / 27 shots)
|
| March 23
|
Spokane Chiefs
|
|
4 – 5
|
OT
|
Everett Silvertips
|
Numerica Veterans Arena
|
|
| 17:47 - pp - Derek Ryan (1)
|
First period
|
Mark Kress (1) - 3:51 Marc Desloges (2) - 5:20 Cody Thoring (1) - 9:49
|
| No scoring
|
Second period
|
Riley Armstrong (1) - pp - 18:11
|
1:22 - Ned Lukačević (1) 8:35 - Brad Schell (1) 15:38 - pp - Jeff Lucky (1)
|
Third period
|
No scoring
|
| No scoring
|
First overtime period
|
Zach Hamill (1) - 2:26
|
| Jim Watt (17 saves / 22 shots)
|
Goalie stats
|
Jeff Harvey (43 saves / 47 shots)
|
| March 24
|
Spokane Chiefs
|
|
0 – 3
|
|
Everett Silvertips
|
Numerica Veterans Arena
|
|
| No scoring
|
First period
|
No scoring
|
| No scoring
|
Second period
|
No scoring
|
| No scoring
|
Third period
|
Bryan Nathe (1) - 0:55 Chad Bassen (3) - 16:02 Marc Desloges (3) - en - 19:08
|
| Jim Watt (19 saves / 21 shots)
|
Goalie stats
|
Jeff Harvey (34 saves / 34 shots)
|
| Everett wins series 4 – 0
|
|
|
|
|
(U2) Portland Winterhawks vs. (U3) Tri-City Americans
| March 19
|
Portland Winterhawks
|
|
2 – 4
|
|
Tri-City Americans
|
Moda Center
|
|
| 3:15 - Robin Big Snake (1)
|
First period
|
Matt Schneider (1) - 1:29 Jason Beeman (1) - 8:54
|
| 15:11 - Robin Big Snake (2)
|
Second period
|
Marc Connors (1) - 3:15 Ryan Kinasewich (1) - 7:24
|
| No scoring
|
Third period
|
No scoring
|
| Krister Toews (33 saves / 37 shots)
|
Goalie stats
|
Carey Price (24 saves / 26 shots)
|
| March 21
|
Portland Winterhawks
|
|
2 – 1
|
2OT
|
Tri-City Americans
|
Moda Center
|
|
| 1:12 - Cody McLeod (1)
|
First period
|
No scoring
|
| No scoring
|
Second period
|
Ryan Kinasewich (2) - 1:04
|
| No scoring
|
Third period
|
No scoring
|
| 5:39 - Brian Woolger (1)
|
Second overtime period
|
No scoring
|
| Krister Toews (39 saves / 40 shots)
|
Goalie stats
|
Carey Price (31 saves / 33 shots)
|
| March 23
|
Tri-City Americans
|
|
4 – 1
|
|
Portland Winterhawks
|
Toyota Center
|
|
19:11 - Shawn Belle (1) 19:47 - Ryan Kinasewich (3)
|
First period
|
No scoring
|
3:41 - pp - Dylan Stanley (1) 6:27 - Matt Schneider (2)
|
Second period
|
Derek Poplawski (1) - 19:31
|
| No scoring
|
Third period
|
No scoring
|
| Carey Price (27 saves / 28 shots)
|
Goalie stats
|
Krister Toews (21 saves / 25 shots)
|
| March 24
|
Tri-City Americans
|
|
3 – 2
|
|
Portland Winterhawks
|
Toyota Center
|
|
11:58 - Marcus Jonasen (1) 16:14 - Clayton Stoner (1)
|
First period
|
No scoring
|
| No scoring
|
Second period
|
Darrell May (1) - 17:15
|
| 7:59 - pp - Shawn Belle (2)
|
Third period
|
Cody McLeod (2) - 16:26
|
| Carey Price (22 saves / 24 shots)
|
Goalie stats
|
Krister Toews (30 saves / 33 shots)
|
| March 26
|
Portland Winterhawks
|
|
1 – 3
|
|
Tri-City Americans
|
Moda Center
|
|
| 9:03 - Brendan Mikkelson (1)
|
First period
|
Nikita Korovkin (1) - pp - 15:55
|
| No scoring
|
Second period
|
No scoring
|
| No scoring
|
Third period
|
Brett Festerling (1) - 17:24 Ryan Costanzo (1) - en - 18:36
|
| Krister Toews (24 saves / 26 shots)
|
Goalie stats
|
Carey Price (17 saves / 18 shots)
|
| 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
|
|
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
- 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.
See also
References