The 2002–03 OHL season was the 23rd season of the Ontario Hockey League . The North Bay Centennials relocated to Saginaw, Michigan , becoming the Saginaw Spirit . Due to the move, several teams changed divisions; the Saginaw Spirit were placed in the west division, the London Knights moved to the midwest division, and the Brampton Battalion moved to the central division. The London Knights moved into the new John Labatt Centre , which replaced the London Ice House . The Tim Adams Memorial Trophy was inaugurated as the MVP of the OHL Cup . Twenty teams each played 68 games. The Mississauga Icedogs qualified for the playoffs for the first time in their existence. The Kitchener Rangers won the J. Ross Robertson Cup , defeating the Ottawa 67's in the final.
2002-03 Ontario Hockey League Eastern Conference Division Team City Arena East Belleville Bulls Belleville , Ontario Yardmen Arena Kingston Frontenacs Kingston , Ontario Kingston Memorial Centre Oshawa Generals Oshawa , Ontario Oshawa Civic Auditorium Ottawa 67's Ottawa , Ontario Ottawa Civic Centre Peterborough Petes Peterborough , Ontario Peterborough Memorial Centre Central Barrie Colts Barrie , Ontario Barrie Molson Centre Brampton Battalion Brampton , Ontario Brampton Centre Mississauga IceDogs Mississauga , Ontario Hershey Centre Sudbury Wolves Sudbury , Ontario Sudbury Community Arena Toronto St. Michael's Majors Toronto , Ontario St. Michael's College School Arena Western Conference Division Team City Arena Midwest Erie Otters Erie , Pennsylvania Erie Civic Center Guelph Storm Guelph , Ontario Guelph Sports and Entertainment Centre Kitchener Rangers Kitchener , Ontario Kitchener Memorial Auditorium London Knights London , Ontario John Labatt Centre Owen Sound Attack Owen Sound , Ontario Bayshore Community Centre West Plymouth Whalers Plymouth , Michigan Compuware Sports Arena Saginaw Spirit Saginaw , Michigan Dow Event Center Sarnia Sting Sarnia , Ontario Sarnia Sports and Entertainment Centre Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Sault Ste. Marie , Ontario Sault Memorial Gardens Windsor Spitfires Windsor , Ontario Windsor Arena
East Division
Central Division
Midwest Division
West Division
Regular season [ edit ] Final standings [ edit ] Note: DIV = Division; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; PTS = Points; x = clinched playoff berth; y = clinched division title; z = clinched conference title
Eastern conference [ edit ] Western conference [ edit ] Scoring leaders [ edit ] Playoffs [ edit ] Conference quarterfinals [ edit ] Eastern conference [ edit ] Ottawa (1) vs. Mississauga (8) Date Away Home March 21 Mississauga 3 4 Ottawa OT March 23 Mississauga 3 8 Ottawa March 24 Ottawa 7 4 Mississauga March 25 Ottawa 4 5 Mississauga OT March 29 Mississauga 3 6 Ottawa Ottawa wins series 4–1
Brampton (2) vs. Barrie (7) Date Away Home March 20 Barrie 2 3 Brampton OT March 22 Brampton 2 4 Barrie March 23 Barrie 4 5 Brampton March 25 Brampton 1 0 Barrie March 27 Barrie 3 1 Brampton March 29 Brampton 2 1 Barrie Brampton wins series 4–2
Peterborough (3) vs. Oshawa (6) Date Away Home March 20 Oshawa 3 2 Peterborough OT March 21 Peterborough 6 5 Oshawa OT March 24 Oshawa 4 5 Peterborough OT March 25 Peterborough 0 3 Oshawa March 27 Oshawa 2 5 Peterborough March 31 Peterborough 1 3 Oshawa April 1 Oshawa 4 3 Peterborough OT Oshawa wins series 4–3
Toronto (4) vs. Belleville (5) Date Away Home March 23 Belleville 4 6 Toronto March 24 Toronto 1 4 Belleville March 27 Belleville 3 6 Toronto March 28 Toronto 2 4 Belleville March 30 Belleville 2 6 Toronto March 31 Toronto 1 6 Belleville April 1 Belleville 1 3 Toronto Toronto wins series 4–3
Western conference [ edit ] Kitchener (1) vs. Sault Ste. Marie (8) Date Away Home March 21 Sault Ste. Marie 0 3 Kitchener March 22 Sault Ste. Marie 0 4 Kitchener March 25 Kitchener 2 1 Sault Ste. Marie March 26 Kitchener 4 2 Sault Ste. Marie Kitchener wins series 4–0
Plymouth (2) vs. Owen Sound (7) Date Away Home March 22 Owen Sound 3 6 Plymouth March 23 Plymouth 6 3 Owen Sound March 25 Owen Sound 4 6 Plymouth March 27 Plymouth 5 2 Owen Sound Plymouth wins series 4–0
Sarnia (3) vs. Guelph (6) Date Away Home March 21 Guelph 5 2 Sarnia March 23 Sarnia 5 7 Guelph March 26 Guelph 0 1 Sarnia March 28 Sarnia 1 6 Guelph March 29 Guelph 0 3 Sarnia March 31 Sarnia 1 9 Guelph Guelph wins series 4–2
Windsor (4) vs. London (5) Date Away Home March 20 London 3 2 Windsor March 21 Windsor 4 1 London March 23 London 6 7 Windsor OT March 26 Windsor 1 2 London March 28 London 5 3 Windsor March 31 Windsor 3 2 London April 1 London 7 4 Windsor London wins series 4–3
Conference semifinals [ edit ] Eastern conference Ottawa (1) vs. Oshawa (6) Date Away Home April 4 Ottawa 2 3 Oshawa April 6 Oshawa 3 4 Ottawa April 7 Oshawa 1 8 Ottawa April 9 Ottawa 5 7 Oshawa April 11 Oshawa 1 7 Ottawa April 13 Ottawa 6 0 Oshawa Ottawa wins series 4–2
Brampton (2) vs. Toronto (4) Date Away Home April 4 Toronto 0 7 Brampton April 6 Brampton 1 4 Toronto April 8 Toronto 4 3 Brampton OT April 10 Brampton 1 4 Toronto April 11 Toronto 6 3 Brampton Toronto wins series 4–1
Western conference Kitchener (1) vs. Guelph (6) Date Away Home April 4 Guelph 3 4 Kitchener April 6 Kitchener 6 2 Guelph April 8 Guelph 5 4 Kitchener April 10 Kitchener 4 1 Guelph April 11 Guelph 4 5 Kitchener OT Kitchener wins series 4–1
Plymouth (2) vs. London (5) Date Away Home April 5 London 3 2 Plymouth April 6 Plymouth 2 1 London April 8 London 4 3 Plymouth April 9 Plymouth 3 2 London OT April 11 London 3 6 Plymouth April 12 Plymouth 1 5 London April 14 London 2 4 Plymouth Plymouth wins series 4–3
Conference finals [ edit ] Eastern conference Western conference Ottawa (1) vs. Toronto (4) Date Away Home April 18 Toronto 3 0 Ottawa April 20 Ottawa 1 2 Toronto April 22 Toronto 0 6 Ottawa April 24 Ottawa 4 2 Toronto April 25 Toronto 6 2 Ottawa April 27 Ottawa 3 2 Toronto OT April 28 Toronto 2 5 Ottawa Ottawa wins series 4–3
Kitchener (1) vs. Plymouth (2) Date Away Home April 16 Plymouth 3 1 Kitchener April 18 Kitchener 6 1 Plymouth April 20 Plymouth 2 3 Kitchener April 22 Kitchener 2 3 Plymouth April 24 Plymouth 2 1 Kitchener OT April 26 Kitchener 7 4 Plymouth April 28 Plymouth 1 3 Kitchener Kitchener wins series 4–3
J. Ross Robertson Cup finals [ edit ] Kitchener (1) vs. Ottawa (1) Date Away Home May 2 Ottawa 3 2 Kitchener OT May 4 Kitchener 4 3 Ottawa OT May 6 Ottawa 1 4 Kitchener May 8 Kitchener 4 3 Ottawa OT May 10 Ottawa 1 4 Kitchener Kitchener wins series 4–1
J. Ross Robertson Cup Champions Roster [ edit ] 2002-03 Kitchener Rangers[1] Goaltenders Defencemen
Wingers
Centres
All-Star teams [ edit ] First team [ edit ] Corey Locke , Centre, Ottawa 67's Cody McCormick , Left Wing, Belleville Bulls Matt Foy , Right Wing, Ottawa 67's Brendan Bell , Defence, Ottawa 67's Lukas Krajicek , Defence, Peterborough Petes Andy Chiodo , Goaltender, Toronto St. Michael's Majors Brian Kilrea , Coach, Ottawa 67's Second team [ edit ] Eric Staal , Centre, Peterborough Petes Brandon Nolan , Left Wing, Oshawa Generals Chad LaRose , Right Wing, Plymouth Whalers Steve Eminger , Defence, Kitchener Rangers Carlo Colaiacovo , Defence, Erie Otters Chris Houle , Goaltender, London Knights Jim Hulton , Coach, Belleville Bulls Third team [ edit ] Matt Stajan , Centre, Belleville Bulls Kris Newbury , Left Wing, Sarnia Sting Dustin Brown , Right Wing, Guelph Storm Trevor Daley , Defence, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Tim Gleason , Defence, Windsor Spitfires Michael Mole , Goaltender, Belleville Bulls Peter DeBoer , Coach, Kitchener Rangers J. Ross Robertson Cup : Kitchener Rangers Hamilton Spectator Trophy : Kitchener Rangers Bobby Orr Trophy : Ottawa 67's Wayne Gretzky Trophy : Kitchener Rangers Leyden Trophy : Ottawa 67's Emms Trophy : Brampton Battalion Holody Trophy : Kitchener Rangers Bumbacco Trophy : Plymouth Whalers Red Tilson Trophy : Corey Locke , Ottawa 67's Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy : Corey Locke , Ottawa 67's Matt Leyden Trophy : Brian Kilrea , Ottawa 67's Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy : Matt Foy , Ottawa 67's Max Kaminsky Trophy : Brendan Bell , Ottawa 67's OHL Goaltender of the Year : Andy Chiodo , Toronto St. Michael's Majors Jack Ferguson Award : Patrick McNeill , Saginaw Spirit Dave Pinkney Trophy : Paul Drew and Jeff Weber , Plymouth Whalers OHL Executive of the Year : Steve Bienkowski , Kitchener Rangers Bill Long Award : Norm Bryan, Peterborough Petes Emms Family Award : Rob Schremp , Mississauga IceDogs F.W. 'Dinty' Moore Trophy : Ryan Munce , Sarnia Sting OHL Humanitarian of the Year : Michael Mole , Belleville Bulls William Hanley Trophy : Kyle Wellwood , Windsor Spitfires Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy : Chad Larose , Plymouth Whalers Bobby Smith Trophy : Dustin Brown , Guelph Storm Tim Adams Memorial Trophy : Jhase Sniderman , Toronto Young Nats Wayne Gretzky 99 Award : Derek Roy , Kitchener Rangers
2003 OHL Priority Selection [ edit ] On May 3, 2003, the OHL conducted the 2003 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection. The Saginaw Spirit held the first overall pick in the draft, and selected Patrick McNeill from the Strathroy Rockets. McNeill was awarded the Jack Ferguson Award , awarded to the top pick in the draft.
Below are the players who were selected in the first round of the 2003 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection. [2]
# Player Nationality OHL Team Hometown Minor Team 1 Patrick McNeill (D ) Canada Saginaw Spirit Strathroy, Ontario Strathroy Rockets 2 Marc Staal (D ) Canada Sudbury Wolves Thunder Bay, Ontario Thunder Bay Kings 3 Tony Rizzi (RW ) Canada Kingston Frontenacs Kingston, Ontario Wellington Dukes 4 Ryan O'Marra (C ) Canada Erie Otters Mississauga, Ontario Mississauga Senators 5 Cody Bass (C ) Canada Mississauga IceDogs Guelph, Ontario Guelph Hurricanes 6 Chris Lawrence (RW ) Canada Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Toronto, Ontario Toronto Marlboros 7 Bobby Ryan (LW ) United States Owen Sound Attack Collingswood, New Jersey Detroit Honeybaked 8 Ryan Parent (D ) Canada Guelph Storm Sioux Lookout, Ontario Waterloo Siskins 9 Steve Spade (D ) United States Barrie Colts Rochester, New York Georgetown Raiders 10 Tom Mannino (D ) United States London Knights Farmington Hills, Michigan Leamington Flyers 11 Justin Wallingford (D ) Canada Oshawa Generals Hamilton, Ontario Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs 12 Mike Roelofsen (C ) Canada Belleville Bulls Chatham, Ontario Dresden Kings 13 Cal Clutterbuck (RW ) Canada Toronto St. Michael's Majors Welland, Ontario Welland Jr. Canadians 14 Daniel Ryder (C ) Canada Peterborough Petes St. John's, Newfoundland Tri-Pen Ospreys 15 Philip Oreskovic (D ) Canada Brampton Battalion Brampton, Ontario Toronto Nationals 16 Steve Downie (RW ) Canada Windsor Spitfires Queensville, Ontario Aurora Tigers 17 Trevor Solomon (D ) Canada Sarnia Sting Garden River, Ontario Sault Ste. Marie North Stars 18 Michael Lombardi (LW ) Canada Plymouth Whalers Richmond Hill, Ontario Vaughan Kings 19 Elgin Reid (D ) Canada Ottawa 67's Milton, Ontario Leamington Flyers 20 Devereaux Heshmatpour (D ) Canada Kitchener Rangers North York, Ontario Vaughan Vipers
2003 CHL Import Draft [ edit ] On June 26, 2003, the Canadian Hockey League conducted the 2003 CHL Import Draft, in which teams in all three CHL leagues participate in. The Owen Sound Attack held the first pick in the draft by a team in the OHL, and selected Štefan Ružička from Slovakia with their selection.
Below are the players who were selected in the first round by Ontario Hockey League teams in the 2003 CHL Import Draft. [3]
# Player Nationality OHL Team Hometown Minor Team 3 Štefan Ružička (LW ) Slovakia Owen Sound Attack Nitra , Slovakia Nitra Jr. 6 Patrick Ehelechner (G ) Germany Sudbury Wolves Rosenheim , Germany Hannover Scorpions 9 Václav Meidl (C ) Czech Republic Plymouth Whalers Havířov , Czech Republic Havířov Jr. 12 Ilya Yakolev (C ) Russia Erie Otters Chelyabinsk , Russia Chelyabinsk Traktor-2 15 Ivan Khomutov (C /LW ) Russia London Knights Saratov , Russia Moscow HC CSKA 18 Martin Tůma (D ) Czech Republic Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Most , Czech Republic Litvínov Chemopetrol Jr. 21 Michal Pešek (LW Czech Republic Toronto St. Michael's Majors Prague , Czech Republic Sparta Prague Jr. 24 Andy Reiss (D ) Germany Oshawa Generals Hannover , Germany Hannover Scorpions 27 Lukáš Bolf (D ) Czech Republic Barrie Colts Vrchlabí , Czech Republic Sparta Prague Jr. 30 Vadim Karaga (LW ) Belarus London Knights Novopolotsk , Belarus Novopolotsk Polimir 33 David Halasz (D ) Slovakia Ottawa 67's Kosice , Slovakia Kosice Jr. 36 Milan Hluchý (C /LW ) Czech Republic Belleville Bulls Rakovník , Czech Republic Kladno Jr. 39 Igor Mirnov (RW ) Russia Toronto St. Michael's Majors Chita , Russia Moscow Dynamo 42 Martin Lučka (D ) Czech Republic Peterborough Petes Zlín , Czech Republic Zlín Jr. 45 Stefan Blaho (RW ) Slovakia Sudbury Wolves Trenčín , Slovakia Trenčín Jr. 48 Vasili Sysa (D ) Russia Windsor Spitfires Chelyabinsk , Russia Ufa Salavat Yulayev-2 50 Boris Valábik (D ) Slovakia Kitchener Rangers Nitra , Slovakia Nitra Jr. 52 Vojtěch Kloz (D ) Czech Republic Kingston Frontenacs Karlovy Vary , Czech Republic Chicago Steel 54 Miloš Schejbal (LW ) Czech Republic Kingston Frontenacs Soběslav , Czech Republic Sparta Prague Jr. 56 Jakub Čech (G ) Czech Republic Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Olomouc , Czech Republic Havířov
See also [ edit ] References [ edit ]
East Division Central Division Midwest Division West Division Defunct teams