2003–04 WHL season


The 2003–04 WHL season was the 38th season of the Western Hockey League. 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. 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

Eastern Conference

Central DivisionGPWLTOTLPtsGFGA
x Medicine Hat Tigers7240209392277216
x Red Deer Rebels72352210585167169
x Calgary Hitmen7234248682220187
x Swift Current Broncos7236297079234209
Lethbridge Hurricanes72272810771196203

Western Conference

U.S. DivisionGPWLTOTLPtsGFGA
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
PlayerTeamGPGAPtsPIM
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
PlayerTeamGPMinWLTGASOSV%GAA
Kelly GuardKelowna Rockets623651441449513.9251.56
Jeff HarveyEverett Silvertips48268424155893.9251.99
Cam WardRed Deer Rebels563338311681144.9262.05
Mike BrodeurMoose Jaw Warriors41238523125844.9292.11
Michael WallPrince George/Everett36171612133652.9202.27

RE/Max Canada-Russia Challenge">ADT Canada-Russia Challenge">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.

All-Star teams

2004 Bantam Draft

The 2004 WHL Bantam Draft was held at the WHL's head office in Calgary on April 29, 2004.
#PlayerNationalityWHL Team
1Ryan Kerr Prince George Cougars
2Colton Gillies Saskatoon Blades
3Thomas Hickey Seattle Thunderbirds
4Dwight King Lethbridge Hurricanes
5Brett Leffler Regina Pats
6Brandon Sutter Red Deer Rebels
7John Negrin Kootenay Ice
8Drayson Bowman Spokane Chiefs
9Joel Broda Tri-City Americans
10Colton Sceviour Portland Winter Hawks
11Keith Aulie Brandon Wheat Kings
12Paul Postma Swift Current Broncos
13Brett Sonne Calgary Hitmen
14Tyson Sexsmith Vancouver Giants
15Eric Doyle Everett Silvertips
16Travis Dunstall Kamloops Blazers
17Justin Palazzo Prince Albert Raiders
18Travis Ehrhardt Moose Jaw Warriors
19Jordie Deagle Medicine Hat Tigers
20Luke Schenn Kelowna Rockets