# 2002–03 OHL season

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.

## Regular season
### Final standings

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

| Rank | Team | DIV | GP | W | L | T | OTL | PTS | GF | GA |
| 1 | z-Ottawa 67's | East | 68 | 44 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 98 | 318 | 210 |
| 2 | y-Brampton Battalion | Central | 68 | 34 | 24 | 6 | 4 | 78 | 239 | 202 |
| 3 | x-Peterborough Petes | East | 68 | 32 | 22 | 11 | 3 | 78 | 222 | 215 |
| 4 | x-Toronto St. Michael's Majors | Central | 68 | 32 | 24 | 7 | 5 | 76 | 207 | 214 |
| 5 | x-Belleville Bulls | East | 68 | 33 | 27 | 6 | 2 | 74 | 195 | 200 |
| 6 | x-Oshawa Generals | East | 68 | 34 | 30 | 2 | 2 | 72 | 243 | 225 |
| 7 | x-Barrie Colts | Central | 68 | 29 | 26 | 4 | 9 | 71 | 228 | 223 |
| 8 | x-Mississauga IceDogs | Central | 68 | 23 | 31 | 11 | 3 | 60 | 212 | 231 |
| 9 | Kingston Frontenacs | East | 68 | 25 | 37 | 2 | 4 | 56 | 222 | 287 |
| 10 | Sudbury Wolves | Central | 68 | 16 | 46 | 4 | 2 | 38 | 175 | 273 |

### Western conference

| Rank | Team | DIV | GP | W | L | T | OTL | PTS | GF | GA |
| 1 | z-Kitchener Rangers | Midwest | 68 | 46 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 100 | 275 | 188 |
| 2 | y-Plymouth Whalers | West | 68 | 43 | 14 | 9 | 2 | 97 | 259 | 174 |
| 3 | x-Sarnia Sting | West | 68 | 41 | 19 | 7 | 1 | 90 | 251 | 193 |
| 4 | x-Windsor Spitfires | West | 68 | 37 | 25 | 5 | 1 | 80 | 259 | 221 |
| 5 | x-London Knights | Midwest | 68 | 31 | 27 | 7 | 3 | 72 | 220 | 205 |
| 6 | x-Guelph Storm | Midwest | 68 | 29 | 28 | 9 | 2 | 69 | 217 | 208 |
| 7 | x-Owen Sound Attack | Midwest | 68 | 27 | 30 | 7 | 4 | 65 | 206 | 243 |
| 8 | x-Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | West | 68 | 26 | 33 | 6 | 3 | 61 | 232 | 284 |
| 9 | Erie Otters | Midwest | 68 | 24 | 35 | 6 | 3 | 57 | 181 | 248 |
| 10 | Saginaw Spirit | West | 68 | 11 | 45 | 5 | 7 | 34 | 158 | 275 |

### Scoring leaders

| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Corey Locke | Ottawa 67's | 66 | 63 | 88 | 151 | 83 |
| Matt Foy | Ottawa 67's | 68 | 61 | 71 | 132 | 112 |
| Chad LaRose | Plymouth Whalers | 67 | 61 | 56 | 117 | 52 |
| Joey Tenute | Sarnia Sting | 68 | 41 | 71 | 112 | 75 |
| Kyle Wellwood | Windsor Spitfires | 57 | 41 | 59 | 100 | 20 |
| Jamie Johnson | Oshawa Generals | 68 | 24 | 76 | 100 | 34 |
| Eric Staal | Peterborough Petes | 66 | 39 | 59 | 98 | 36 |
| Matt Stajan | Belleville Bulls | 57 | 34 | 60 | 94 | 75 |
| Kris Newbury | Sarnia Sting | 64 | 34 | 58 | 92 | 149 |
| Brandon Nolan | Oshawa Generals | 68 | 36 | 52 | 88 | 57 |

## Playoffs

| Conference quarterfinals | Conference quarterfinals | Conference quarterfinals | Conference semifinals | Conference semifinals | Conference semifinals | Conference finals | Conference finals | Conference finals | | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| E1 | Ottawa | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| E8 | Mississauga | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| E8 | Mississauga | 1 | E1 | Ottawa | 4 | | | | | | | |
| | | | E6 | Oshawa | 2 | | | | | | | |
| E3 | Peterborough | 3 | E6 | Oshawa | 2 | | | | | | | |
| E6 | Oshawa | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| E6 | Oshawa | 4 | | | | E1 | Ottawa | 4 | | | | |
| | | | | | | E4 | Toronto | 3 | | | | |
| E4 | Toronto | 4 | | | | | | | E4 | Toronto | 3 | | | | |
| E5 | Belleville | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| E5 | Belleville | 3 | E4 | Toronto | 4 | | | | | | | |
| | | | E2 | Brampton | 1 | | | | | | | |
| E2 | Brampton | 4 | E2 | Brampton | 1 | | | | | | | |
| E7 | Barrie | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| E7 | Barrie | 2 | | | | | | | | E1 | Ottawa | 1 |
| | | | | | | | | | | W1 | Kitchener | 4 |
| W1 | Kitchener | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | W1 | Kitchener | 4 |
| W8 | S.S. Marie | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| W8 | S.S. Marie | 0 | W1 | Kitchener | 4 | | | | | | | |
| | | | W6 | Guelph | 1 | | | | | | | |
| W3 | Sarnia | 2 | W6 | Guelph | 1 | | | | | | | |
| W6 | Guelph | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| W6 | Guelph | 4 | | | | W1 | Kitchener | 4 | | | | |
| | | | | | | W2 | Plymouth | 3 | | | | |
| W4 | Windsor | 3 | | | | | | | W2 | Plymouth | 3 | | | | |
| W5 | London | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| W5 | London | 4 | W5 | London | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | | | W2 | Plymouth | 4 | | | | | | | |
| W2 | Plymouth | 4 | W2 | Plymouth | 4 | | | | | | | |
| W7 | Owen Sound | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |

### Conference quarterfinals
#### Eastern conference

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

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

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

| Eastern conference | Western conference |
| Ottawa (1) vs. Toronto (4) DateAwayHome April 18Toronto 30 Ottawa April 20Ottawa 12 Toronto April 22Toronto 06 Ottawa April 24Ottawa 42 Toronto April 25Toronto 62 Ottawa April 27Ottawa 32 TorontoOT April 28Toronto 25 Ottawa Ottawa wins series 4–3 | Kitchener (1) vs. Plymouth (2) DateAwayHome April 16Plymouth 31 Kitchener April 18Kitchener 61 Plymouth April 20Plymouth 23 Kitchener April 22Kitchener 23 Plymouth April 24Plymouth 21 KitchenerOT April 26Kitchener 74 Plymouth April 28Plymouth 13 Kitchener Kitchener wins series 4–3 |

### J. Ross Robertson Cup finals

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
## All-Star teams
### First team

* 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

* 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

* 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

## Awards

| 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

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.
| # | 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

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.
| # | 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 |