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.
Quick Facts League, Sport ...
Close
Quick Facts League, Sport ...
Close
- 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.
Eastern Conference
More information East Division, GP ...
Close
More information Central Division, GP ...
Close
Western Conference
More information B.C. Division, GP ...
Close
More information U.S. Division, GP ...
Close
Map of WHL, 2003–04 to 2005–06
200km
125miles
Wheat Kings
Pats
Warriors
Raiders
Blades
Broncos
Tigers
Hurricanes
Rebels
Hitmen
Ice
Chiefs
Americans
Rockets
Blazers
Silvertips
Thunderbirds
Winterhawks
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
More information Player, Team ...
Close
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
More information Player, Team ...
Close
Conference quarterfinals
Eastern Conference
More information Moose Jaw vs. Regina, Date ...
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 |
|
Close
Western Conference
More information Kelowna vs. Kootenay, Date ...
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 |
|
Close
Conference semifinals
More information Eastern Conference, Medicine Hat vs. Brandon ...
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 |
|
Close
More information Western Conference, Kelowna vs. Tri-City ...
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 |
|
Close
Conference finals
More information Eastern Conference, Western Conference ...
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 |
|
Close
WHL Championship
More information Medicine Hat vs Everett, Date ...
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 |
|
Close
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.
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 |
More information Eastern Conference, First Team ...
Close
- source: Western Hockey League press release
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.
More information #, Player ...
Close