2002–03 WHL season

{{Infobox sports season

| title = 2002–03 WHL season

| league = Western Hockey League

| sport = Ice hockey

| playoffs = Playoffs

| playoffs_MVP_link = WHL Playoff MVP

| playoffs_MVP = Jesse Schultz (Rockets)

| finals_champ = Kelowna Rockets (1)

| finals_runner-up = Red Deer Rebels

| no_of_teams = 19

| season = Regular season

| season_champ_name = Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy

| season_champs = Kelowna Rockets (1)

| MVP_link = Four Broncos Memorial Trophy

| MVP = Josh Harding (Regina Pats)

| top_scorer_link = Bob Clarke Trophy

| top_scorer = Erik Christensen (Kamloops Blazers)

| seasonslistnames = WHL

| prevseason_year = 2001–02

| nextseason_year = 2003–04

}}

{{Infobox sports season

| title = 2002–03 CHL season

| color = #4B489D

| color_text = #FFFFFF

| league = Canadian Hockey League

| sport = Ice hockey

| no_of_teams = 55

| season = OHL

| season2 = QMJHL

| season3 = WHL

| playoffs = Memorial Cup

| finals_champ = Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

| num_championships = 2

| finals_runner-up = Hull Olympiques (QMJHL)

}}

The 2002–03 WHL season was the 37th season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Nineteen teams completed a 72-game season. The Kelowna Rockets won both the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as the league's best regular season team and the President's Cup as playoff champion, both for the first time. The Rockets thus earned a berth in the 2003 Memorial Cup tournament.

Regular season

=Final standings=

=Eastern Conference=

width="45%" \| East Division ! width="5%" \| GP ! width="5%" \| W ! width="5%" \| L ! width="5%" \| T ! width="5%" \| OTL ! width="7.5%" \| Pts ! width="7.5%" \| GF ! width="7.5%" \| GA
class="wikitable"
x Brandon Wheat Kings	72	43	17	9	3	98	258	187
x Moose Jaw Warriors	72	36	22	11	3	86	266	208
x Saskatoon Blades	72	40	27	5	0	85	234	205
x Regina Pats	72	25	28	14	5	69	171	217
Prince Albert Raiders	72	27	37	3	5	62	185	258

width="45%" \| Central Division ! width="5%" \| GP ! width="5%" \| W ! width="5%" \| L ! width="5%" \| T ! width="5%" \| OTL ! width="7.5%" \| Pts ! width="7.5%" \| GF ! width="7.5%" \| GA
class="wikitable"
x Red Deer Rebels	72	50	17	3	2	105	271	160
x Swift Current Broncos	72	38	24	7	3	86	240	215
x Medicine Hat Tigers	72	29	34	2	7	67	278	314
x Calgary Hitmen	72	27	36	7	2	63	240	260
Lethbridge Hurricanes	72	28	39	2	3	61	236	303

=Western Conference=

width="45%" \| B.C. Division ! width="5%" \| GP ! width="5%" \| W ! width="5%" \| L ! width="5%" \| T ! width="5%" \| OTL ! width="7.5%" \| Pts ! width="7.5%" \| GF ! width="7.5%" \| GA
class="wikitable"
x Kelowna Rockets	72	51	14	6	1	109	311	164
x Kamloops Blazers	72	39	27	5	1	84	261	222
x Kootenay Ice	72	36	25	6	5	83	234	202
x Vancouver Giants	72	26	37	5	4	61	217	292
x Prince George Cougars	72	26	41	3	2	57	257	317

width="45%" \| U.S. Division ! width="5%" \| GP ! width="5%" \| W ! width="5%" \| L ! width="5%" \| T ! width="5%" \| OTL ! width="7.5%" \| Pts ! width="7.5%" \| GF ! width="7.5%" \| GA
class="wikitable"
x Seattle Thunderbirds	72	44	22	3	3	94	280	224
x Spokane Chiefs	72	26	36	6	4	62	216	261
x Portland Winter Hawks	72	19	40	8	5	51	192	243
Tri-City Americans	72	20	44	3	5	47	240	335

Prince George crosses over into U.S. Division playoffs

=Scoring leaders=

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

width="30%" \| Player ! width="30%" \| Team ! width="7.5%" \| GP ! width="7.5%" \| G ! width="7.5%" \| A ! width="7.5%" \| Pts ! width="7.5%" \| PIM
class="wikitable"
Erik Christensen	Kamloops Blazers	67	54	54	108	60
Jesse Schultz	Kelowna Rockets	72	53	51	104	47
Jeremy Jackson	Lethbridge Hurricanes	65	44	58	102	83
Matt Ellison	Red Deer Rebels	72	40	56	96	80
Chris St. Jaques	Medicine Hat Tigers	70	31	65	96	78
Brooks Laich	Seattle Thunderbirds	60	41	53	94	65
Jeremy Williams	Swift Current Broncos	72	41	52	93	117
Dylan Stanley	Tri-City Americans	72	34	59	93	60
David Bararuk	Moose Jaw Warriors	66	29	64	93	44
Nigel Dawes	Kootenay Ice	72	47	45	92	54

=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

bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="27.5%" \| Player ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="27.5%" \| Team ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" \| GP ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" \| Min ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" \| W ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" \| L ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" \| T ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" \| GA ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" \| SO ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" \| SV% ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" \| GAA
class="wikitable"
Kelly Guard	Kelowna Rockets	53	3018	39	10	3	97	6	.911	1.93
Geoff McIntosh	Brandon Wheat Kings	23	1337	12	6	4	46	2	.914	2.06
Cam Ward	Red Deer Rebels	57	3367	40	13	2	118	5	.920	2.10
Jeff Glass	Kootenay Ice	35	1884	15	16	2	77	4	.909	2.45
Blake Grenier	Moose Jaw Warriors	41	2356	23	8	8	100	5	.911	2.55

2003 WHL Playoffs

{{16TeamBracket

| RD1=Conference Quarter-finals

| RD2=Conference Semi-finals

| RD3=Conference Finals

| RD4=WHL Championship

| RD2-group1=Eastern

| RD2-group2=Western

| RD1-seed01=E1

| RD1-team01= Brandon

| RD1-score01= 4

| RD1-seed02= E4

| RD1-team02= Regina

| RD1-score02= 1

| RD1-seed03=E2

| RD1-team03= Moose Jaw

| RD1-score03= 4

| RD1-seed04= E3

| RD1-team04= Saskatoon

| RD1-score04= 2

| RD1-seed05= C1

| RD1-team05= Red Deer

| RD1-score05= 4

| RD1-seed06= C4

| RD1-team06= Calgary

| RD1-score06= 1

| RD1-seed07=C2

| RD1-team07= Swift Current

| RD1-score07= 0

| RD1-seed08= C3

| RD1-team08= Medicine Hat

| RD1-score08= 4

| RD1-seed09= B1

| RD1-team09= Kelowna

| RD1-score09= 4

| RD1-seed10=B4

| RD1-team10= Vancouver

| RD1-score10= 0

| RD1-seed11= B2

| RD1-team11= Kamloops

| RD1-score11= 2

| RD1-seed12= B3

| RD1-team12= Kootenay

| RD1-score12= 4

| RD1-seed13= U1

| RD1-team13= Seattle

| RD1-score13= 4

| RD1-seed14= B5

| RD1-team14= Prince George

| RD1-score14= 1

| RD1-seed15= U2

| RD1-team15= Spokane

| RD1-score15= 4

| RD1-seed16= U3

| RD1-team16= Portland

| RD1-score16= 3

| RD2-seed01= C1

| RD2-team01= Red Deer

| RD2-score01= 4

| RD2-seed02= C3

| RD2-team02= Medicine Hat

| RD2-score02= 3

| RD2-seed03= E1

| RD2-team03= Brandon

| RD2-score03= 4

| RD2-seed04= E2

| RD2-team04= Moose Jaw

| RD2-score04= 3

| RD2-seed05= B1

| RD2-team05= Kelowna

| RD2-score05= 4

| RD2-seed06=U2

| RD2-team06= Spokane

| RD2-score06= 0

| RD2-seed07= U1

| RD2-team07= Seattle

| RD2-score07= 4

| RD2-seed08= B3

| RD2-team08= Kootenay

| RD2-score08= 1

| RD3-seed01=E1

| RD3-team01= Brandon

| RD3-score01= 1

| RD3-seed02= C1

| RD3-team02= Red Deer

| RD3-score02= 4

| RD3-seed03= B1

| RD3-team03= Kelowna

| RD3-score03= 4

| RD3-seed04= U1

| RD3-team04= Seattle

| RD3-score04= 1

| RD4-seed01=C1

| RD4-team01= Red Deer

| RD4-score01= 2

| RD4-seed02=B1

| RD4-team02= Kelowna

| RD4-score02= 4

}}

=Conference quarterfinals=

==Eastern Conference==

Date	Away	Home
cellspacing="10" \| valign="top" \| {\| class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" \| Brandon vs. Regina
March 21	align="right" \| Regina 1	3 Brandon
March 22	align="right" \| Regina 2	1 Brandon	OT
March 25	align="right" \| Brandon 3	1 Regina
March 26	align="right" \| Brandon 2	1 Regina	OT
March 28	align="right" \| Regina 2	4 Brandon
align="center" \| colspan="4" \| *Brandon wins series 4–1*

| valign="top" |

Date	Away	Home
class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" \| Moose Jaw vs. Saskatoon
March 21	align="right" \| Saskatoon 3	0 Moose Jaw
March 22	align="right" \| Saskatoon 4	5 Moose Jaw
March 25	align="right" \| Moose Jaw 3	5 Saskatoon
March 26	align="right" \| Moose Jaw 3	2 Saskatoon	OT
March 29	align="right" \| Saskatoon 1	3 Moose Jaw
March 31	align="right" \| Moose Jaw 5	3 Saskatoon
align="center" \| colspan="4" \| *Moose Jaw wins series 4–2*

| valign="top" |

Date	Away	Home
class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" \| Red Deer vs. Calgary
March 21	align="right" \| Calgary 0	2 Red Deer
March 22	align="right" \| Calgary 2	3 Red Deer
March 25	align="right" \| Red Deer 4	2 Calgary
March 26	align="right" \| Red Deer 1	2 Calgary
March 29	align="right" \| Calgary 3	4 Red Deer
align="center" \| colspan="4" \| *Red Deer wins series 4–1*

| valign="top" |

Date	Away	Home
class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" \| Swift Current vs. Medicine Hat
March 21	align="right" \| Medicine Hat 3	2 Swift Current	OT
March 22	align="right" \| Medicine Hat 4	2 Swift Current
March 25	align="right" \| Swift Current 3	6 Medicine Hat
March 26	align="right" \| Swift Current 1	7 Medicine Hat
align="center" \| colspan="4" \| *Medicine Hat wins series 4–0*

==Western Conference==

Date	Away	Home
cellspacing="10" \| valign="top" \| {\| class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" \| Kelowna vs. Vancouver
March 22	align="right" \| Vancouver 0	10 Kelowna
March 23	align="right" \| Vancouver 3	4 Kelowna	2OT
March 26	align="right" \| Kelowna 2	0 Vancouver
March 27	align="right" \| Kelowna 8	2 Vancouver
align="center" \| colspan="4" \| *Kelowna wins series 4–0*

| valign="top" |

Date	Away	Home
class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" \| Kamloops vs. Kootenay
March 21	align="right" \| Kootenay 2	1 Kamloops	OT
March 22	align="right" \| Kootenay 0	1 Kamloops
March 25	align="right" \| Kamloops 2	3 Kootenay	4OT
March 26	align="right" \| Kamloops 1	4 Kootenay
March 29	align="right" \| Kootenay 6	7 Kamloops
March 31	align="right" \| Kamloops 1	2 Kootenay	2OT
align="center" \| colspan="4" \| *Kootenay wins series 4–2*

| valign="top" |

Date	Away	Home
class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" \| Seattle vs. Prince George
March 22	align="right" \| Prince George 1	4 Seattle
March 23	align="right" \| Prince George 3	7 Seattle
March 26	align="right" \| Seattle 2	4 Prince George
March 27	align="right" \| Seattle 3	1 Prince George
March 29	align="right" \| Prince George 3	4 Seattle
align="center" \| colspan="4" \| *Seattle wins series 4–1*

| valign="top" |

Date	Away	Home
class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" \| Spokane vs. Portland
March 21	align="right" \| Spokane 2	4 Portland
March 23	align="right" \| Spokane 1	3 Portland
March 26	align="right" \| Portland 3	4 Spokane	OT
March 28	align="right" \| Portland 2	1 Spokane	2OT
March 29	align="right" \| Portland 3	8 Spokane
March 31	align="right" \| Spokane 3	2 Portland	OT
April 2	align="right" \| Portland 2	4 Spokane
align="center" \| colspan="4" \| *Spokane wins series 4–3*

=Conference semifinals=

Date	Away	Home
cellspacing="10" ! colspan="2" \| Eastern Conference
valign="top" \| {\| class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" \| Red Deer vs. Medicine Hat
April 4	align="right" \| Medicine Hat 2	6 Red Deer
April 5	align="right" \| Medicine Hat 0	3 Red Deer
April 8	align="right" \| Red Deer 3	4 Medicine Hat
April 9	align="right" \| Red Deer 3	6 Medicine Hat
April 11	align="right" \| Medicine Hat 2	4 Red Deer
April 13	align="right" \| Red Deer 2	3 Medicine Hat	2OT
April 15	align="right" \| Medicine Hat 1	5 Red Deer
align="center" \| colspan="4" \| *Red Deer wins series 4–3*

| valign="top" |

Date	Away	Home
class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" \| Brandon vs. Moose Jaw
April 4	align="right" \| Brandon 2	3 Moose Jaw
April 5	align="right" \| Brandon 2	1 Moose Jaw
April 9	align="right" \| Moose Jaw 5	3 Brandon
April 11	align="right" \| Moose Jaw 1	4 Brandon
April 12	align="right" \| Moose Jaw 1	2 Brandon
April 14	align="right" \| Brandon 6	7 Moose Jaw	OT
April 16	align="right" \| Moose Jaw 3	7 Brandon
align="center" \| colspan="4" \| *Brandon wins series 4–3*

Date	Away	Home
cellspacing="10" ! colspan="2" \| Western Conference
valign="top" \| {\| class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" \| Kelowna vs. Spokane
April 4	align="right" \| Spokane 1	6 Kelowna
April 5	align="right" \| Spokane 1	5 Kelowna
April 9	align="right" \| Kelowna 4	1 Spokane
April 11	align="right" \| Kelowna 4	3 Spokane	OT
align="center" \| colspan="4" \| *Kelowna wins series 4–0*

| valign="top" |

Date	Away	Home
class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" \| Seattle vs. Kootenay
April 5	align="right" \| Kootenay 2	4 Seattle
April 7	align="right" \| Kootenay 0	4 Seattle
April 9	align="right" \| Seattle 5	0 Kootenay
April 10	align="right" \| Seattle 1	2 Kootenay	2OT
April 12	align="right" \| Kootenay 1	2 Seattle	OT
align="center" \| colspan="4" \| *Seattle wins series 4–1*

=Conference finals=

Date	Away	Home
cellspacing="10" ! Eastern Conference !! Western Conference
valign="top" \| {\| class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" \| Red Deer vs. Brandon
April 18	align="right" \| Brandon 1	5 Red Deer
April 19	align="right" \| Brandon 0	2 Red Deer
April 22	align="right" \| Red Deer 5	1 Brandon
April 23	align="right" \| Red Deer 1	2 Brandon
April 25	align="right" \| Brandon 1	3 Red Deer
align="center" \| colspan="4" \| *Red Deer wins series 4–1*

| valign="top" |

Date	Away	Home
class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" \| Kelowna vs. Seattle
April 18	align="right" \| Seattle 4	5 Kelowna
April 19	align="right" \| Seattle 3	6 Kelowna
April 22	align="right" \| Kelowna 2	3 Seattle	2OT
April 23	align="right" \| Kelowna 4	0 Seattle
April 25	align="right" \| Seattle 2	4 Kelowna
align="center" \| colspan="4" \| *Kelowna wins series 4–1*

=WHL Championship=

Date	Away	Home
class="wikitable" ! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" \| Kelowna vs. Red Deer
May 2	align="right" \| Red Deer 1	5 Kelowna
May 3	align="right" \| Red Deer 2	5 Kelowna
May 5	align="right" \| Kelowna 2	6 Red Deer
May 6	align="right" \| Kelowna 1	2 Red Deer
May 8	align="right" \| Red Deer 2	5 Kelowna
May 10	align="right" \| Kelowna 2	0 Red Deer
align="center" \| colspan="4" \| *Kelowna wins series 4–2*

All-Star game

All-Star festivities included a round robin between all-star squads from the three CHL leagues. On November 12, the WHL Eastern All-Stars defeated the QMJHL Lebel All-Stars 5–2 at Hull, Quebec before a crowd of 2,194. Then, on November 19, the WHL Western All-Stars defeated the OHL Eastern All-Stars 7–3 at Vancouver, British Columbia before a crowd of 7,046. With the victories, the WHL won the Hershey Cup as champion of the round robin format all-star tournament.

WHL awards

cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"

|Four Broncos Memorial Trophy (Player of the Year): Josh Harding, Regina Pats

Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy (Scholastic Player of the Year): Brett Dickie, Brandon Wheat Kings

Scholastic Team of the Year: Prince Albert Raiders

Bob Clarke Trophy (Top scorer): Erik Christensen, Kamloops Blazers

Brad Hornung Trophy (Most Sportsmanlike Player): Boyd Gordon, Red Deer Rebels

Bill Hunter Trophy (Top Defenseman): Jeff Woywitka, Red Deer Rebels

Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year): Matt Ellison, Red Deer Rebels

Del Wilson Trophy (Top Goaltender): Josh Harding, Regina Pats

Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy (Coach of the Year): Marc Habscheid, Kelowna Rockets

Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy (Executive of the Year): Bruce Hamilton, Kelowna Rockets

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

Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy (Top Official): Steve Kozari

St. Clair Group Trophy (Marketing/Public Relations Award): Anne-Marie Hamilton, Kelowna Rockets, and Reid Pederson, Regina Pats

Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy (Humanitarian of the Year): Ryan Craig, Brandon Wheat Kings

WHL Plus-Minus Award: Matthew Spiller, Seattle Thunderbirds

WHL Playoff Most Valuable Player: Jesse Schultz, Kelowna Rockets

All-Star Teams

colspan="5"\|Eastern Conference
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" width="70%"
	colspan="2"\|First Team	colspan="2"\|Second Team
Goal	Josh Harding	Regina Pats	Cam Ward	Red Deer Rebels
rowspan="2"\|Defense	Jeff Woywitka	Red Deer Rebels	Stephen Mann	Saskatoon Blades
Ian White	Swift Current Broncos	Nathan Paetsch	Moose Jaw Warriors
rowspan="3"\|Forward	Ryan Craig	Brandon Wheat Kings	Jeremy Jackson	Lethbridge Hurricanes
Jordin Tootoo	Brandon Wheat Kings	David Bararuk	Moose Jaw Warriors
Boyd Gordon	Red Deer Rebels	Matt Ellison	Red Deer Rebels
colspan="5"\|Western Conference
	colspan="2"\|First Team	colspan="2"\|Second Team
Goal	Kelly Guard	Kelowna Rockets	Billy Thompson	Prince George Cougars
rowspan="2"\|Defense	Tomas Slovak	Kelowna Rockets	Gerard Dicaire	Kootenay Ice
Tomas Mojzis	Seattle Thunderbirds	Josh Gorges	Kelowna Rockets
rowspan="3"\|Forward	Erik Christensen	Kamloops Blazers	Nigel Dawes	Kootenay Ice
Jesse Schultz	Kelowna Rockets	Kiel McLeod	Kelowna Rockets
Brooks Laich	Seattle Thunderbirds	Adam Courchaine	Vancouver Giants

source: Western Hockey League press release

2003 Bantam draft

:List of first round picks in the bantam draft.

class="wikitable"
bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="2.75%" \| # ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="22.0%" \| Player ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="16.5%" \| Nationality ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="24.0%" \| WHL Team
1 \| Jonathan Toews (C) \| {{CAN}} \| Tri-City Americans
2 \| Ben Maxwell (C) \| {{CAN}} \| Kootenay Ice (via Lethbridge)
3 \| Zach Hamill (C) \| {{CAN}} \| Everett Silvertips
4 \| Ryan de Pape (RW) \| {{CAN}} \| Prince Albert Raiders
5 \| Sasha Golin (RW) \| {{CAN}} \| Portland Winter Hawks
6 \| Tyler Swystun (C) \| {{CAN}} \| Prince George Cougars
7 \| Jason Reese (LW) \| {{USA}} \| Vancouver Giants
8 \| Michael Reich (C) \| {{CAN}} \| Spokane Chiefs
9 \| Keegan Dansereau (RW) \| {{CAN}} \| Calgary Hitmen
10 \| Trevor Glass (D) \| {{CAN}} \| Medicine Hat Tigers
11 \| Logan Pyett (D) \| {{CAN}} \| Regina Pats
12 \| Todd Panchyson (D) \| {{CAN}} \| Kootenay Ice
13 \| Victor Bartley (D) \| {{CAN}} \| Kamloops Blazers
14 \| Justin McCrae (C) \| {{CAN}} \| Saskatoon Blades
15 \| Brennan Wray (C) \| {{CAN}} \| Moose Jaw Warriors
16 \| Kyle Bortis (LW) \| {{CAN}} \| Swift Current Broncos
17 \| George Holloway (C) \| {{CAN}} \| Seattle Thunderbirds
18 \| Mike Cann (D) \| {{CAN}} \| Brandon Wheat Kings
19 \| Matthew Cline (C) \| {{CAN}} \| Red Deer Rebels
20 \| Craig Cuthbert (C) \| {{CAN}} \| Kelowna Rockets

class="wikitable"

bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="2.75%" | #

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="22.0%" | Player

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="16.5%" | Nationality

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="24.0%" | WHL Team

| Jonathan Toews (C)

| {{CAN}}

| Tri-City Americans

| Ben Maxwell (C)

| {{CAN}}

| Kootenay Ice (via Lethbridge)

| Zach Hamill (C)