2003–04 WHL season

The 2003–04 WHL season was the 38th season for the Western Hockey League. Twenty teams completed a 72-game season. The Medicine Hat Tigers won the President's Cup, while the host Kelowna Rockets won the Memorial Cup.

League notes
  • The Everett Silvertips joined the WHL as its 20th franchise, playing in the U.S. Division of the western Conference.
  • The playoff crossover if the 5th-place team in the B.C. Division finished ahead of the 4th-place team in the U.S. division was discontinued. The top four teams in each division qualified for the playoffs.
  • The 2003–04 season became a historic one for the WHL. The Everett Silvertips, the league's newest franchise, broke 10 junior hockey expansion team records, including winning both a division title and conference title in the team's first season. The Silvertips also became the first expansion team in WHL history to win a playoff series against the league's top team in the regular season, defeating the regular-season champions and reigning WHL champions Kelowna Rockets in seven games after falling behind 3–1 in the Western Conference Finals before winning three straight games in overtime, becoming the first junior hockey expansion team to win a conference title.

Regular season

Eastern Conference
East Division GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA
x Moose Jaw Warriors7241228191209172
x Prince Albert Raiders7238236587215186
x Brandon Wheat Kings7228329368230224
x Regina Pats7224377459155232
Saskatoon Blades7275211227140279
Central Division GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA
x Medicine Hat Tigers7240209392277216
x Red Deer Rebels72352210585167169
x Calgary Hitmen7234248682220187
x Swift Current Broncos7236297079234209
Lethbridge Hurricanes72272810771196203

Western Conference
B.C. Division GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA
x Kelowna Rockets7247214098185125
x Vancouver Giants7233249681215196
x Kamloops Blazers7234288278192192
x Kootenay Ice7232307374183200
Prince George Cougars7230347168214236
U.S. Division GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA
x Everett Silvertips7235278280157153
x Portland Winter Hawks7234296377199206
x Tri-City Americans72312710476199206
x Spokane Chiefs7232294775200215
Seattle Thunderbirds7224318965192198

Scoring leaders

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

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Tyler RedenbachSwift Current Broncos71317410552
Jeremy WilliamsSwift Current Broncos68524910182
Kyle BrodziakMoose Jaw Warriors7039549358
Brad SchellSpokane Chiefs7135579247
Chris St. JaquesMedicine Hat Tigers6433599280
Chad KlassenSpokane Chiefs7235569167
Seth LeonardPrince Albert Raiders7250409053
Eric FehrBrandon Wheat Kings71403484129
Adam CourchaineVancouver Giants7039438234
Darren ReidMedicine Hat Tigers67334881194

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 GuardKelowna Rockets623651441449513.9251.56
Jeff HarveyEverett Silvertips48268424155893.9251.99
Cam WardRed Deer Rebels563338311681144.9262.05
Mike BrodeurMoose Jaw Warriors41238523125844.9292.11
Mike WallPrince George/Everett36171612133652.9202.27

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

Eastern Conference
Moose Jaw vs. Regina
DateAwayHome
March 19Regina 03 Moose Jaw
March 20Regina 24 Moose Jaw
March 23Moose Jaw 51 Regina
March 25Moose Jaw 41 Regina
Moose Jaw wins series 4–0
Prince Albert vs. Brandon
DateAwayHome
March 18Brandon 32 Prince AlbertOT
March 19Brandon 15 Prince Albert
March 23Prince Albert 13 Brandon
March 24Prince Albert 23 Brandon
March 26Brandon 26 Prince Albert
March 29Prince Albert 14 Brandon
Brandon wins series 4–2
Medicine Hat vs. Swift Current
DateAwayHome
March 19Swift Current 03 Medicine Hat
March 20Swift Current 24 Medicine Hat
March 23Medicine Hat 24 Swift Current
March 24Medicine Hat 42 Swift Current
March 26Swift Current 08 Medicine Hat
Medicine Hat wins series 4–1
Red Deer vs. Calgary
DateAwayHome
March 19Calgary 04 Red Deer
March 20Calgary 34 Red Deer2OT
March 23Red Deer 02 Calgary
March 25Red Deer 41 Calgary
March 27Calgary 31 Red Deer
March 30Red Deer 03 Calgary
March 31Calgary 24 Red Deer
Red Deer wins series 4–3

Western Conference
Kelowna vs. Kootenay
DateAwayHome
March 19Kootenay 35 Kelowna
March 20Kootenay 14 Kelowna
March 23Kelowna 40 Kootenay
March 24Kelowna 31 Kootenay
Kelowna wins series 4–0
Vancouver vs. Kamloops
DateAwayHome
March 19Kamloops 21 Vancouver
March 20Kamloops 24 Vancouver
March 23Vancouver 21 Kamloops
March 24Vancouver 53 Kamloops
March 27Kamloops 45 VancouverOT
Vancouver wins series 4–1
Everett vs. Spokane
DateAwayHome
March 19Spokane 12 EverettOT
March 20Spokane 03 Everett
March 23Everett 54 SpokaneOT
March 24Everett 30 Spokane
Everett wins series 4–0
Portland vs Tri-City
DateAwayHome
March 19Tri-City 42 Portland
March 21Tri-City 12 PortlandOT
March 23Portland 14 Tri-City
March 24Portland 23 Tri-City
March 26Tri-City 31 Portland
Tri-City wins series 4–1

Conference semifinals
Eastern Conference
Medicine Hat vs. Brandon
DateAwayHome
April 2Brandon 15 Medicine Hat
April 3Brandon 24 Medicine Hat
April 6Medicine Hat 53 Brandon
April 7Medicine Hat 39 Brandon
April 9Brandon 14 Medicine Hat
Medicine Hat wins series 4–1
Moose Jaw vs. Red Deer
DateAwayHome
April 2Red Deer 43 Moose Jaw
April 3Red Deer 32 Moose Jaw
April 6Moose Jaw 42 Red Deer
April 7Moose Jaw 21 Red DeerOT
April 9Red Deer 21 Moose Jaw2OT
April 11Moose Jaw 0Red Deer 3
Red Deer wins series 4–2
Western Conference
Kelowna vs. Tri-City
DateAwayHome
April 2Tri-City 32 KelownaOT
April 3Tri-City 43 KelownaOT
April 6Kelowna 41 Tri-City
April 7Kelowna 43 Tri-CityOT
April 9Tri-City 27 Kelowna
April 11Kelowna 21 Tri-City
Kelowna wins series 4–2
Vancouver vs Everett
DateAwayHome
April 2Everett 12 Vancouver
April 3Everett 31 Vancouver
April 5Vancouver 31 Everett
April 8Vancouver 04 Everett
April 9Everett 62 Vancouver
April 11Vancouver 23 Everett
Everett wins series 4–2

Conference finals
Eastern ConferenceWestern Conference
Medicine Hat vs Red Deer
DateAwayHome
April 16Red Deer 10 Medicine Hat
April 17Red Deer 24 Medicine Hat
April 20Medicine Hat 13 Red Deer
April 21Medicine Hat 21 Red Deer
April 23Red Deer 34 Medicine Hat
April 25Medicine Hat 42 Red Deer
Medicine Hat wins series 4–2
Kelowna vs Everett
DateAwayHome
April 16Everett 32 Kelowna
April 17Everett 12 Kelowna
April 20Kelowna 21 Everett
April 22Kelowna 43 Everett
April 24Everett 10 KelownaOT
April 26Kelowna 12 EverettOT
April 27Everett 21 KelownaOT
Everett wins series 4–3

WHL Championship
Medicine Hat vs Everett
DateAwayHome
April 30Everett 14 Medicine Hat
May 1Everett 03 Medicine Hat
May 4Medicine Hat 30 Everett
May 5Medicine Hat 42 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
Player of the Year - Four Broncos Memorial Trophy: Cam Ward, Red Deer Rebels
Scholastic Player of the Year - Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy: Devan Dubnyk, Kamloops Blazers
Top Scorer - Bob Clarke Trophy: Tyler Redenbach, Swift Current Broncos
Most Sportsmanlike Player - Brad Hornung Trophy: Nigel Dawes, Kootenay Ice
Top Defenseman - Bill Hunter Trophy: Dion Phaneuf, Red Deer Rebels
Rookie of the Year - Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy: Gilbert Brule, Vancouver Giants
Top Goaltender - Del Wilson Trophy: Cam Ward, Red Deer Rebels
Coach of the Year - Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy: Kevin Constantine, Everett Silvertips
Executive of the Year - Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy: Kelly Kisio, Calgary Hitmen
Regular season Champions - Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy: Kelowna Rockets
Top Official - Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy: Rob Matsuoka
Marketing/Public Relations Award - St. Clair Group Trophy: Mark Stiles, Calgary Hitmen
Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy - Braydon Coburn, Portland Winter Hawks
WHL Plus-Minus Award: Andrew Ladd, Calgary Hitmen
Playoff Most Valuable Player - airBC Trophy: Kevin Nastiuk, Medicine Hat Tigers

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

See also

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