The 2003–04 ECHL season was the 16th season of the ECHL. This was the first season that the league would be known as only the ECHL instead of East Coast Hockey League after the absorption of the former West Coast Hockey League teams. The Brabham Cup regular season champions were the San Diego Gulls and the Kelly Cup playoff champions were the Idaho Steelheads.
Quick Facts League, Sport ...
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This season brought a major change in the ECHL as the Board of Governors approved membership applications from the Anchorage Aces, the Bakersfield Condors, the Fresno Falcons, the Idaho Steelheads, the Las Vegas Wranglers, the Long Beach Ice Dogs and the San Diego Gulls from the recently defunct West Coast Hockey League. In a change reflective of the nationwide presence, the East Coast Hockey League changed its name to simply ECHL on May 19, 2003.
During the 2003 off-season, the Richmond Renegades, Arkansas RiverBlades, Jackson Bandits, Baton Rouge Kingfish, and Lexington Men O' War all ceased operations.
In addition to the former WCHL teams, the league also added two reactivated franchises in the Gwinnett Gladiators (formerly the Mobile Mysticks) and Texas Wildcatters (formerly the Huntington Blizzard).
The ECHL All-Star Game was held at Carver Arena in Peoria, Illinois, and was hosted by the Peoria Rivermen. The Eastern Conference All-Stars defeated the Western Conference All-Stars 7–6, with Peoria's Randy Rowe named Most Valuable Player.
Final standings
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L= Losses; OTL = Overtime or Shootout losses; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points
Green shade = Clinched playoff spot; Blue shade = Clinched division; (z) = Clinched home-ice advantage[1][2]
Eastern Conference
More information Northern Division, GP ...
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More information Southern Division, GP ...
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Western Conference
More information Central Division, GP ...
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More information Pacific Division, GP ...
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Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty Minutes
More information Player, Team ...
| Player |
Team |
GP |
G |
A |
Pts |
| Tim Smith | CBA | 69 | 33 | 62 | 95 |
| Steffon Walby | MS | 59 | 33 | 55 | 88 |
| Brian McCullough | FL | 72 | 40 | 47 | 87 |
| Louis Dumont | MS | 72 | 33 | 51 | 84 |
| Louis Goulet | AUG | 72 | 32 | 52 | 84 |
| Mark Pederson | SD | 70 | 44 | 37 | 81 |
| Sylvai Deschatelets | SD | 72 | 24 | 57 | 81 |
| Mark Turner | GBO | 72 | 28 | 50 | 78 |
| Cory Neilson | PEN | 72 | 19 | 59 | 78 |
| Jon Cullen | AC | 71 | 29 | 48 | 77 |
|
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Leading goaltenders
Note: GP = Games played; Mins = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals allowed; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
More information Player, Team ...
| Player |
Team |
GP |
Mins |
W |
L |
T |
GA |
SO |
Sv% |
GAA |
| Scott Stirling | AC | 49 | 2954 | 31 | 13 | 5 | 94 | 4 | .933 | 1.91 |
| Derek Gustafson | LA | 43 | 2498 | 28 | 14 | 0 | 87 | 5 | .927 | 2.09 |
| Michael Garnett | GWT | 33 | 1936 | 21 | 10 | 2 | 69 | 4 | .926 | 2.14 |
| Trever Koenig | SD | 53 | 3154 | 37 | 7 | 8 | 114 | 3 | .920 | 2.17 |
| Mike Valley | PEO | 37 | 2184 | 20 | 8 | 7 | 83 | 3 | .915 | 2.28 |
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Bracket
| Northern Division Wildcard
| | | Division Semifinals
| | | Division Finals
| | | Conference Finals
| | | Kelly Cup Final
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | N1
| Wheeling
| 2
| | | | |
|
| |
| | | N5
| Reading
| 3
| |
| N4
| Johnstown
| 0
| |
| |
| N5
| Reading
| 1
| |
| | N5
| Reading
| 3
| |
|
| |
| | | N3
| Peoria
| 1
| |
| | | |
| |
| | |
| | N2
| Atlantic City
| 1
| |
|
| |
| | | N3
| Peoria
| 3
| |
| | |
| |
| | |
| | N5
| Reading
| 2
| |
| Eastern Conference
| |
| | | S3
| Florida
| 3
| |
| | | | |
| |
| | |
| | S1
| Columbia
| 1
| |
|
| |
| | | S4
| South Carolina
| 3
| |
| | |
| |
| | |
| | S4
| South Carolina
| 0
| |
|
| |
| | | S2
| Florida
| 3
| |
| | | |
| |
| | |
| | S2
| Roanoke
| 1
| |
|
| |
| | | S3
| Florida
| 3
| |
| | |
| |
| | |
| | S3
| Florida
| 1
| |
|
| |
| | | P3
| Idaho
| 4
| |
| | | | | |
| |
| | |
| | C1
| Louisiana
| 3
| |
|
| |
| | | C4
| Pensacola
| 2
| |
| | |
| |
| | |
| | C1
| Louisiana
| 1
| |
|
| |
| | | C3
| Gwinnett
| 3
| |
| | | |
| |
| | |
| | C2
| Mississippi
| 2
| |
|
| |
| | | C3
| Gwinnett
| 3
| |
| | |
| |
| | |
| | C3
| Gwinnett
| 1
| |
| Western Conference
| |
| | | P3
| Idaho
| 3
| |
| | | | |
| |
| | |
| | P1
| San Diego
| 0
| |
|
| |
| | | P4
| Alaska
| 3
| |
| | |
| |
| | |
| | P4
| Alaska
| 1
| |
|
| |
| | | P3
| Idaho
| 3
| |
| | | |
| |
| | |
| | P2
| Las Vegas
| 2
| |
|
| |
| | | P3
| Idaho
| 3
| |
Eastern Conference
1st round
More information Northern Division Wildcard Johnstown vs. Reading, Date ...
Northern Division Wildcard
Johnstown vs. Reading
|
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 5 | Reading 2 | Johnstown 1 |
| Reading wins series 1–0 |
|
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Division Semifinals
More information Northern Division Semifinals Wheeling vs. Reading, Date ...
Northern Division Semifinals
Wheeling vs. Reading
|
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 8 | Reading 1 | Wheeling 3 |
| April 9 | Reading 3 | Wheeling 2 |
| April 10 | Wheeling 3 | Reading 4 |
| April 13 | Wheeling 3 | Reading 1 |
| April 14 | Reading 4 | Wheeling 0 |
| Reading wins series 3–2 |
|
Northern Division Semifinals
Atlantic City vs. Peoria
|
|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 7 | Peoria 2 | Atlantic City 3 | |
| April 9 | Peoria 6 | Atlantic City 3 | |
| April 12 | Atlantic City 1 | Peoria 2 | 2OT |
| April 13 | Atlantic City 1 | Peoria 2 | OT |
| Peoria wins series 3–1 |
|
Close
More information Southern Division Semifinals Columbia vs. South Carolina, Date ...
Southern Division Semifinals
Columbia vs. South Carolina
|
|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 6 | South Carolina 1 | Columbia 4 | |
| April 9 | South Carolina 4 | Columbia 2 | |
| April 10 | Columbia 2 | South Carolina 3 | OT |
| April 13 | Columbia 0 | South Carolina 3 | |
| South Carolina wins series 3–1 |
|
Southern Division Semifinals
Roanoke vs. Florida
|
|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 6 | Florida 4 | Roanoke 3 | |
| April 8 | Florida 6 | Roanoke 3 | |
| April 9 | Roanoke 5 | Florida 3 | |
| April 12 | Roanoke 2 | Florida 3 | OT |
| Florida wins series 3–1 |
|
Close
Division finals
More information Northern Division Finals Peoria vs. Reading, Date ...
Northern Division Finals
Peoria vs. Reading
|
|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 17 | Reading 2 | Peoria 1 | OT |
| April 19 | Reading 2 | Peoria 4 | |
| April 21 | Peoria 2 | Reading 3 | |
| April 22 | Peoria 1 | Reading 3 | |
| Reading wins series 3–1 |
|
Southern Division Finals
Florida vs. South Carolina
|
|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 17 | South Carolina 3 | Florida 6 | |
| April 19 | South Carolina 1 | Florida 2 | 2OT |
| April 22 | Florida 8 | South Carolina 2 | |
| Florida wins series 3–0 |
|
Close
Conference finals
More information Eastern Conference Finals Florida vs. Reading, Date ...
Eastern Conference Finals
Florida vs. Reading
|
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 28 | Reading 0 | Florida 1 |
| April 30 | Reading 3 | Florida 5 |
| May 2 | Florida 0 | Reading 6 |
| May 5 | Florida 1 | Reading 4 |
| May 10 | Reading 2 | Florida 3 |
Florida wins series 3–2
and Gingher Memorial Trophy |
Western Conference
Division Semifinals
Central Division Semifinals
Louisiana vs. Pensacola
|
|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 7 | Pensacola 4 | Louisiana 8 | |
| April 8 | Pensacola 0 | Louisiana 6 | |
| April 10 | Louisiana 1 | Pensacola 2 | OT |
| April 13 | Louisiana 1 | Pensacola 3 | |
| April 14 | Pensacola 1 | Louisiana 2 | 2OT |
| Louisiana wins series 3–2 |
|
Central Division Semifinals
Gwinnett vs. Mississippi
|
|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 7 | Gwinnett 2 | Mississippi 1 | OT |
| April 9 | Gwinnett 3 | Mississippi 4 | |
| April 10 | Mississippi 3 | Gwinnett 6 | |
| April 12 | Mississippi 3 | Gwinnett 0 | |
| April 14 | Gwinnett 2 | Mississippi 1 | OT |
| Gwinnett wins series 3–2 |
|
Pacific Division Semifinals
San Diego vs. Alaska
|
|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 6 | Alaska 4 | San Diego 2 | |
| April 7 | Alaska 4 | San Diego 3 | OT |
| April 9 | San Diego 1 | Alaska 5 | |
| Alaska wins series 3–0 |
|
Pacific Division Semifinals
Las Vegas vs. Idaho
|
|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 6 | Idaho 2 | Las Vegas 4 | |
| April 9 | Idaho 2 | Las Vegas 3 | |
| April 10 | Las Vegas 0 | Idaho 2 | |
| April 13 | Las Vegas 3 | Idaho 4 | OT |
| April 14 | Idaho 3 | Las Vegas 0 | |
| Idaho wins series 3–2 |
|
Division finals
Central Division Finals
Louisiana vs. Gwinnett
|
|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 16 | Gwinnett 1 | Louisiana 3 | |
| April 17 | Gwinnett 2 | Louisiana 1 | |
| April 21 | Louisiana 2 | Gwinnett 3 | |
| April 22 | Louisiana 5 | Gwinnett 6 | 2OT |
| Gwinnett wins series 3–1 |
|
Pacific Division Finals
Idaho vs. Alaska
|
|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 16 | Alaska 4 | Idaho 3 | OT |
| April 17 | Alaska 1 | Idaho 4 | |
| April 20 | Idaho 4 | Alaska 1 | |
| April 21 | Idaho 3 | Alaska 2 | |
| Idaho wins series 3–1 |
|
Conference finals
Western Conference Finals
Gwinnett vs. Idaho
|
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 27 | Idaho 5 | Gwinnett 3 |
| April 28 | Idaho 1 | Gwinnett 3 |
| May 1 | Gwinnett 1 | Idaho 3 |
| May 5 | Gwinnett 2 | Idaho 5 |
Idaho wins series 3–1
and Bruce Taylor Trophy |
|
Close
Kelly Cup finals
More information Florida vs. Idaho, Date ...
| Florida vs. Idaho |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| May 14 | Idaho 5 | Florida 1 | |
| May 15 | Idaho 6 | Florida 4 | |
| May 19 | Florida 0 | Idaho 1 | OT |
| May 21 | Florida 3 | Idaho 2 | OT |
| May 22 | Florida 2 | Idaho 5 | |
Idaho wins series 4–1
and Kelly Cup |
|
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