# 2003–04 OHL season

The 2003–04 OHL season was the 24th season of the Ontario Hockey League. In November 2003, the OHL Board of Governors renamed the OHL Humanitarian of the Year Award to the Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy, in recognition of former Owen Sound Platers player, Dan Snyder, who died in a car accident in September 2003. Twenty teams each played 68 games. The J. Ross Robertson Cup was won by the Guelph Storm, who swept the Mississauga IceDogs in the league 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-Toronto St. Michael's Majors | Central | 68 | 38 | 21 | 7 | 2 | 85 | 210 | 187 |
| 2 | y-Ottawa 67's | East | 68 | 29 | 26 | 9 | 4 | 71 | 238 | 220 |
| 3 | x-Mississauga IceDogs | Central | 68 | 36 | 21 | 7 | 4 | 83 | 217 | 199 |
| 4 | x-Barrie Colts | Central | 68 | 31 | 21 | 12 | 4 | 78 | 196 | 171 |
| 5 | x-Kingston Frontenacs | East | 68 | 30 | 28 | 7 | 3 | 70 | 210 | 221 |
| 6 | x-Oshawa Generals | East | 68 | 30 | 29 | 8 | 1 | 69 | 188 | 206 |
| 7 | x-Brampton Battalion | Central | 68 | 25 | 32 | 9 | 2 | 61 | 180 | 221 |
| 8 | x-Sudbury Wolves | Central | 68 | 25 | 32 | 6 | 5 | 61 | 185 | 220 |
| 9 | Peterborough Petes | East | 68 | 22 | 40 | 3 | 3 | 50 | 191 | 244 |
| 10 | Belleville Bulls | East | 68 | 15 | 44 | 8 | 1 | 39 | 172 | 279 |

### Western conference

| Rank | Team | DIV | GP | W | L | T | OTL | PTS | GF | GA |
| 1 | z-London Knights | Midwest | 68 | 53 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 110 | 300 | 147 |
| 2 | y-Sarnia Sting | West | 68 | 37 | 23 | 4 | 4 | 82 | 220 | 210 |
| 3 | x-Guelph Storm | Midwest | 68 | 49 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 103 | 276 | 182 |
| 4 | x-Kitchener Rangers | Midwest | 68 | 34 | 26 | 6 | 2 | 76 | 254 | 235 |
| 5 | x-Plymouth Whalers | West | 68 | 32 | 24 | 9 | 3 | 76 | 220 | 204 |
| 6 | x-Owen Sound Attack | Midwest | 68 | 30 | 27 | 7 | 4 | 71 | 202 | 210 |
| 7 | x-Erie Otters | Midwest | 68 | 29 | 26 | 6 | 7 | 71 | 221 | 212 |
| 8 | x-Windsor Spitfires | West | 68 | 27 | 30 | 3 | 8 | 65 | 201 | 219 |
| 9 | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | West | 68 | 30 | 34 | 3 | 1 | 64 | 196 | 223 |
| 10 | Saginaw Spirit | West | 68 | 16 | 45 | 3 | 4 | 39 | 161 | 228 |

### Scoring leaders

| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Corey Locke | Ottawa 67's | 65 | 51 | 67 | 118 | 82 |
| Corey Perry | London Knights | 66 | 40 | 73 | 113 | 98 |
| Martin St. Pierre | Guelph Storm | 68 | 45 | 65 | 110 | 95 |
| Eric Himelfarb | Kingston Frontenacs | 67 | 37 | 70 | 107 | 80 |
| Daniel Sisca | Sarnia Sting | 67 | 34 | 66 | 100 | 89 |
| Rob Hisey | Erie Otters | 63 | 38 | 58 | 96 | 63 |
| Mike Richards | Kitchener Rangers | 58 | 36 | 53 | 89 | 82 |
| Scott Sheppard | London Knights | 68 | 29 | 59 | 88 | 75 |
| Patrick O'Sullivan | Mississauga IceDogs | 53 | 43 | 39 | 82 | 32 |
| John Mitchell | Plymouth Whalers | 65 | 28 | 54 | 82 | 45 |

## Playoffs

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

### Conference quarterfinals
#### Eastern conference

Toronto (1) vs. Sudbury (8) :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 19 | Sudbury 0 | 2 Toronto |
| March 21 | Toronto 0 | 2 Sudbury |
| March 23 | Sudbury 1 | 3 Toronto |
| March 24 | Toronto 2 | 1 Sudbury |
| March 26 | Sudbury 4 | 3 Toronto | OT |
| March 29 | Toronto 0 | 4 Sudbury |
| March 30 | Sudbury 2 | 5 Toronto |
| Toronto wins series 4–3 ||||
Ottawa (2) vs. Brampton (7) :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 19 | Brampton 5 | 7 Ottawa |
| March 21 | Ottawa 3 | 4 Brampton | OT |
| March 23 | Brampton 2 | 1 Ottawa |
| March 25 | Ottawa 4 | 3 Brampton | OT |
| March 27 | Brampton 4 | 2 Ottawa |
| March 28 | Ottawa 6 | 3 Brampton |
| March 30 | Brampton 3 | 1 Ottawa |
| Brampton wins series 4–3 ||||
Mississauga (3) vs. Oshawa (6) :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 19 | Oshawa 0 | 3 Mississauga |
| March 21 | Mississauga 0 | 1 Oshawa |
| March 23 | Oshawa 5 | 2 Mississauga |
| March 24 | Mississauga 2 | 0 Oshawa |
| March 26 | Oshawa 1 | 5 Mississauga |
| March 29 | Mississauga 3 | 4 Oshawa | OT |
| March 30 | Oshawa 1 | Mississauga 6 |
| Mississauga wins series 4–3 ||||
Barrie (4) vs. Kingston (5) :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 18 | Kingston 4 | 6 Barrie |
| March 20 | Barrie 2 | 0 Kingston |
| March 21 | Kingston 4 | 5 Barrie |
| March 23 | Barrie 5 | 6 Kingston | OT |
| March 25 | Kingston 1 | 2 Barrie | OT |
| Barrie wins series 4–1 ||||

#### Western conference

London (1) vs. Windsor (8) :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 19 | Windsor 0 | 5 London |
| March 21 | London 10 | 6 Windsor |
| March 23 | Windsor 1 | 5 London |
| March 25 | London 8 | 1 Windsor |
| London wins series 4–0 ||||
Sarnia (2) vs. Erie (7) :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 19 | Erie 4 | 3 Sarnia | OT |
| March 20 | Erie 2 | 3 Sarnia |
| March 23 | Sarnia 2 | 7 Erie |
| March 24 | Sarnia 2 | 3 Erie |
| March 26 | Erie 3 | 2 Sarnia |
| Erie wins series 4–1 ||||
Guelph (3) vs. Owen Sound (6) :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 19 | Owen Sound 2 | 4 Guelph |
| March 20 | Guelph 5 | 3 Owen Sound |
| March 23 | Owen Sound 2 | 0 Guelph |
| March 24 | Guelph 1 | 2 Owen Sound |
| March 26 | Owen Sound 3 | 5 Guelph |
| March 27 | Guelph 5 | 6 Owen Sound |
| March 30 | Owen Sound 1 | 3 Guelph |
| Guelph wins series 4–3 ||||
Kitchener (4) vs. Plymouth (5) :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 19 | Plymouth 3 | 2 Kitchener |
| March 20 | Kitchener 3 | 6 Plymouth |
| March 22 | Plymouth 4 | 5 Kitchener |
| March 24 | Kitchener 0 | 2 Plymouth |
| March 26 | Plymouth 5 | 0 Kitchener |
| Plymouth wins series 4–1 ||||

### Conference semifinals

Eastern conference :
Toronto (1) vs. Brampton (7) :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 2 | Brampton 2 | 4 Toronto |
| April 4 | Toronto 3 | 2 Brampton |
| April 6 | Brampton 0 | 2 Toronto |
| April 8 | Toronto 3 | 5 Brampton |
| April 9 | Brampton 0 | 3 Toronto |
| Toronto wins series 4–1 ||||
Mississauga (3) vs. Barrie (4) :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 1 | Mississauga 3 | 5 Barrie |
| April 4 | Barrie 1 | 2 Mississauga | OT |
| April 6 | Barrie 3 | 2 Mississauga | OT |
| April 8 | Mississauga 4 | 0 Barrie |
| April 9 | Barrie 2 | 0 Mississauga |
| April 11 | Mississauga 4 | 3 Barrie |
| April 12 | Barrie 1 | Mississauga 4 |
| Mississauga wins series 4–3 ||||
Western conference :
London (1) vs. Erie (7) :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 31 | Erie 2 | 6 London |
| April 3 | London 5 | 1 Erie |
| April 5 | Erie 3 | 6 London |
| April 7 | London 4 | 1 Erie |
| London wins series 4–0 ||||
Guelph (3) vs. Plymouth (5) :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 2 | Plymouth 0 | 4 Guelph |
| April 3 | Guelph 4 | 1 Plymouth |
| April 5 | Plymouth 2 | 3 Guelph | OT |
| April 7 | Guelph 5 | 1 Plymouth |
| Guelph wins series 4–0 ||||

### Conference finals

| Eastern conference | Western conference |
| Toronto (1) vs. Mississauga (3) DateAwayHome April 14Mississauga 03 Toronto April 16Toronto 02 Mississauga April 18Mississauga 34 Toronto April 21Toronto 03 Mississauga April 23Mississauga 32 TorontoOT April 25Toronto 24 Mississauga Mississauga wins series 4–2 | London (1) vs. Guelph (3) DateAwayHome April 13Guelph 42 London April 15London 32 GuelphOT April 16Guelph 43 London April 18London 25 Guelph April 22Guelph 12 LondonOT April 23London 52 Guelph April 26Guelph 63 London Guelph wins series 4–3 |

### J. Ross Robertson Cup finals

Guelph (3) vs. Mississauga (3) :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 28 | Mississauga 1 | 4 Guelph |
| April 29 | Guelph 2 | 1 Mississauga |
| May 3 | Mississauga 4 | 6 Guelph |
| May 5 | Guelph 5 | 1 Mississauga |
| Guelph wins series 4–0 ||||

### J. Ross Robertson Cup Champions Roster
## All-Star teams
### First team

* Corey Locke, Centre, Ottawa 67's
* Wojtek Wolski, Left Wing, Brampton Battalion
* Corey Perry, Right Wing, London Knights
* James Wisniewski, Defence, Plymouth Whalers
* Dennis Wideman, Defence, London Knights
* Paulo Colaiacovo, Goaltender, Barrie Colts
* Dale Hunter, Coach, London Knights

### Second team

* Jeff Carter, Centre, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
* Scott Dobben, Left Wing, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
* Stefan Ruzicka, Right Wing, Owen Sound Attack
* Andre Benoit, Defence, Kitchener Rangers
* Jeremy Swanson, Defence, Barrie Colts
* Patrick Ehelechner, Goaltender, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
* Greg Gilbert, Coach, Mississauga IceDogs

### Third team

* Martin St. Pierre, Centre, Guelph Storm
* Dylan Hunter, Left Wing, London Knights
* Dave Bolland, Right Wing, London Knights
* Chris Campoli, Defence, Erie Otters
* Kevin Klein, Defence, Guelph Storm
* David Shantz, Goaltender, Mississauga IceDogs
* Shawn Camp, Coach, Guelph Storm

## CHL Canada/Russia Series

In the RE/MAX Canada-Russia Challenge, the OHL All-stars defeated the Russian Selects 7–1 at London, Ontario, on November 17, and the OHL All-stars defeated the Russian Selects 4–0 at Sarnia, Ontario, on November 19.

## Awards

| J. Ross Robertson Cup: | Guelph Storm |
| Hamilton Spectator Trophy: | London Knights |
| Bobby Orr Trophy: | Mississauga IceDogs |
| Wayne Gretzky Trophy: | Guelph Storm |
| Leyden Trophy: | Ottawa 67's |
| Emms Trophy: | Toronto St. Michael's Majors |
| Holody Trophy: | London Knights |
| Bumbacco Trophy: | Sarnia Sting |
| Red Tilson Trophy: | Corey Locke, Ottawa 67's |
| Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy: | Corey Locke, Ottawa 67's |
| Matt Leyden Trophy: | Dale Hunter, London Knights |
| Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy: | Corey Perry, London Knights |
| Max Kaminsky Trophy: | James Wisniewski, Plymouth Whalers |
| OHL Goaltender of the Year: | Paulo Colaiacovo, Barrie Colts |
| Jack Ferguson Award: | John Hughes, Belleville Bulls |
| Dave Pinkney Trophy: | Ryan MacDonald and Gerald Coleman, London Knights |
| OHL Executive of the Year: | Mark Hunter, London Knights |
| Emms Family Award: | Bryan Little, Barrie Colts |
| F. W. "Dinty" Moore Trophy: | Ryan MacDonald, London Knights |
| Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy: | Chris Campoli, Erie Otters |
| William Hanley Trophy: | Andre Benoit, Kitchener Rangers |
| Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy: | Martin St. Pierre, Guelph Storm |
| Bobby Smith Trophy: | Scott Lehman, Toronto St. Michael's Majors |
| Tim Adams Memorial Trophy: | Harrison Reed, York Simcoe Express |
| Wayne Gretzky 99 Award: | Martin St. Pierre, Guelph Storm |

## 2004 OHL Priority Selection

On May 1, 2004, the OHL conducted the 2004 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection. The Belleville Bulls held the first overall pick in the draft, and selected John Hughes from the Whitby Wildcats. Hughes 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 2004 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.
| # | Player | Nationality | OHL Team | Hometown | Minor Team |
| 1 | John Hughes (RW) | Canada | Belleville Bulls | Whitby, Ontario | Whitby Wildcats |
| 2 | Matt Corrente (D) | Canada | Saginaw Spirit | Mississauga, Ontario | Vaughan Vipers |
| 3 | Jordan Staal (C) | Canada | Peterborough Petes | Thunder Bay, Ontario | Thunder Bay Kings |
| 4 | Ryan McInerney (C) | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | Oakville, Ontario | Milton IceHawks |
| 5 | Ryan McDonough (C) | Canada | Sudbury Wolves | Toronto, Ontario | North York Jr. Canadiens |
| 6 | John Degray (D) | Canada | Brampton Battalion | Markham, Ontario | Richmond Hill Stars |
| 7 | Cory McGillis (LW) | Canada | Windsor Spitfires | Coniston, Ontario | Sudbury Nickel Barons |
| 8 | James Delory (D) | Canada | Oshawa Generals | Newmarket, Ontario | York-Simcoe Express |
| 9 | Ben Shutron (D) | Canada | Kingston Frontenacs | Ottawa, Ontario | Richmond Hill Stars |
| 10 | Matt Lahey (RW) | Canada | Ottawa 67's | Oshawa, Ontario | Oshawa Kinsmen |
| 11 | Brett MacLean (LW) | Canada | Erie Otters | Port Elgin, Ontario | Grey-Bruce Highlanders |
| 12 | Payton Liske (LW) | Canada | Owen Sound Attack | Fonthill, Ontario | Welland Jr. Canadians |
| 13 | John Armstrong (C) | Canada | Plymouth Whalers | Markham, Ontario | North York Jr. Canadiens |
| 14 | Justin Azevedo (C) | Canada | Kitchener Rangers | West Elgin, Ontario | Chatham Maroons |
| 15 | Nathan Martine (D) | Canada | Barrie Colts | Port Colborne, Ontario | Port Colborne Pirates |
| 16 | Kody Musselman (RW) | Canada | Sarnia Sting | Whitby, Ontario | Oshawa Legionaires |
| 17 | Dustin Jeffrey (C) | Canada | Mississauga IceDogs | Courtright, Ontario | Lambton Jr. Sting |
| 18 | Justin DiBenedetto (LW) | Canada | Toronto St. Michael's Majors | Maple, Ontario | Toronto Marlboros |
| 19 | Michael Caruso (D) | Canada | Guelph Storm | Mississauga, Ontario | Mississauga Reps |
| 20 | Steven Ferry (D) | Canada | London Knights | Richmond Hill, Ontario | Richmond Hill Stars |

## 2004 CHL Import Draft

On June 30, 2004, the Canadian Hockey League conducted the 2004 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 Andrej Sekera from Slovakia with their selection.
Below are the players who were selected in the first round by Ontario Hockey League teams in the 2004 CHL Import Draft.
| # | Player | Nationality | OHL Team | Hometown | Minor Team |
| 2 | Andrej Sekera (D) | Slovakia | Owen Sound Attack | Prievidza, Slovakia | Dukla Trenčín Jr. |
| 5 | Jakub Kindl (D) | Czech Republic | Kitchener Rangers | Šumperk, Czech Republic | HC Pardubice Jr. |
| 8 | Michal Birner (LW) | Czech Republic | Barrie Colts | Litoměřice, Czech Republic | Slavia Praha Jr. |
| 11 | Marek Kvapil (RW) | Slovakia | Saginaw Spirit | Ilava, Slovakia | Slavia Praha Jr. |
| 14 | Peter Olvecky (C/LW) | Slovakia | Sudbury Wolves | Nové Zámky, Slovakia | Dukla Trenčín Jr. |
| 17 | Tomas Stryncl (D) | Czech Republic | Brampton Battalion | Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic | HC Karlovy Vary Jr. |
| 20 | No selection made | | Windsor Spitfires | | |
| 23 | Jakub Petruzalek (C/RW) | Czech Republic | Ottawa 67's | Litvínov, Czech Republic | Verva Litvínov |
| 26 | Radek Smolenak (LW) | Czech Republic | Kingston Frontenacs | Prague, Czech Republic | HC Kladno Jr. |
| 29 | Lukas Kaspar (RW) | Czech Republic | Ottawa 67's | Litvínov, Czech Republic | Verva Litvínov |
| 32 | Vladimir Tyufyakov (LW) | Russia | Erie Otters | Novosibirsk, Russia | Sibir Novosibirsk U18 |
| 35 | Lubomir Stach (D) | Czech Republic | Belleville Bulls | Vsetín, Czech Republic | HC Vsetín Jr. |
| 38 | Michal Kolarz (D) | Czech Republic | Plymouth Whalers | Havířov, Czech Republic | HC Vítkovice Ostrave Jr. |
| 41 | Philip Ogleznev (LW) | Ukraine | Sarnia Sting | Kharkiv, Ukraine | Elektrostal Elemash Junior |
| 44 | Niko Vainio (D) | Finland | Peterborough Petes | Helsinki, Finland | Jokerit Jr. |
| 47 | Andrey Plekhanov (D) | Russia | Sarnia Sting | Nizhnekamsk, Russia | Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk |
| 50 | Ville Peltosuo (D) | Finland | Mississauga IceDogs | Helsinki, Finland | Kiekko Vantaa B |
| 52 | Peter Regin (C) | Denmark | Toronto St. Michael's Majors | Herning, Denmark | Herning Blue Fox |
| 54 | Jaromir Florian (LW) | Czech Republic | Guelph Storm | Brno, Czech Republic | HC Kometa Brno Jr. |
| 56 | Mathis Olimb (C) | Norway | London Knights | Oslo, Norway | Manglerud Star |