# 2003–04 WHL season

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

| East Division | GP | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | GF | GA |
| x Moose Jaw Warriors | 72 | 41 | 22 | 8 | 1 | 91 | 209 | 172 |
| x Prince Albert Raiders | 72 | 38 | 23 | 6 | 5 | 87 | 215 | 186 |
| x Brandon Wheat Kings | 72 | 28 | 32 | 9 | 3 | 68 | 230 | 224 |
| x Regina Pats | 72 | 24 | 37 | 7 | 4 | 59 | 155 | 232 |
| Saskatoon Blades | 72 | 7 | 52 | 11 | 2 | 27 | 140 | 279 |
| Central Division | GP | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | GF | GA |
| x Medicine Hat Tigers | 72 | 40 | 20 | 9 | 3 | 92 | 277 | 216 |
| x Red Deer Rebels | 72 | 35 | 22 | 10 | 5 | 85 | 167 | 169 |
| x Calgary Hitmen | 72 | 34 | 24 | 8 | 6 | 82 | 220 | 187 |
| x Swift Current Broncos | 72 | 36 | 29 | 7 | 0 | 79 | 234 | 209 |
| Lethbridge Hurricanes | 72 | 27 | 28 | 10 | 7 | 71 | 196 | 203 |

### Western Conference

| B.C. Division | GP | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | GF | GA |
| x Kelowna Rockets | 72 | 47 | 21 | 4 | 0 | 98 | 185 | 125 |
| x Vancouver Giants | 72 | 33 | 24 | 9 | 6 | 81 | 215 | 196 |
| x Kamloops Blazers | 72 | 34 | 28 | 8 | 2 | 78 | 192 | 192 |
| x Kootenay Ice | 72 | 32 | 30 | 7 | 3 | 74 | 183 | 200 |
| Prince George Cougars | 72 | 30 | 34 | 7 | 1 | 68 | 214 | 236 |
| U.S. Division | GP | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | GF | GA |
| x Everett Silvertips | 72 | 35 | 27 | 8 | 2 | 80 | 157 | 153 |
| x Portland Winter Hawks | 72 | 34 | 29 | 6 | 3 | 77 | 199 | 206 |
| x Tri-City Americans | 72 | 31 | 27 | 10 | 4 | 76 | 199 | 206 |
| x Spokane Chiefs | 72 | 32 | 29 | 4 | 7 | 75 | 200 | 215 |
| Seattle Thunderbirds | 72 | 24 | 31 | 8 | 9 | 65 | 192 | 198 |

### Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Tyler Redenbach | Swift Current Broncos | 71 | 31 | 74 | 105 | 52 |
| Jeremy Williams | Swift Current Broncos | 68 | 52 | 49 | 101 | 82 |
| Kyle Brodziak | Moose Jaw Warriors | 70 | 39 | 54 | 93 | 58 |
| Brad Schell | Spokane Chiefs | 71 | 35 | 57 | 92 | 47 |
| Chris St. Jaques | Medicine Hat Tigers | 64 | 33 | 59 | 92 | 80 |
| Chad Klassen | Spokane Chiefs | 72 | 35 | 56 | 91 | 67 |
| Seth Leonard | Prince Albert Raiders | 72 | 50 | 40 | 90 | 53 |
| Eric Fehr | Brandon Wheat Kings | 71 | 40 | 34 | 84 | 129 |
| Adam Courchaine | Vancouver Giants | 70 | 39 | 43 | 82 | 34 |
| Darren Reid | Medicine Hat Tigers | 67 | 33 | 48 | 81 | 194 |

### 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 Guard | Kelowna Rockets | 62 | 3651 | 44 | 14 | 4 | 95 | 13 | .925 | 1.56 |
| Jeff Harvey | Everett Silvertips | 48 | 2684 | 24 | 15 | 5 | 89 | 3 | .925 | 1.99 |
| Cam Ward | Red Deer Rebels | 56 | 3338 | 31 | 16 | 8 | 114 | 4 | .926 | 2.05 |
| Mike Brodeur | Moose Jaw Warriors | 41 | 2385 | 23 | 12 | 5 | 84 | 4 | .929 | 2.11 |
| Mike Wall | Prince George/Everett | 36 | 1716 | 12 | 13 | 3 | 65 | 2 | .920 | 2.27 |

## 2004 WHL Playoffs

| Conference Quarter-finals | Conference Quarter-finals | Conference Quarter-finals | | | Conference Semi-finals | Conference Semi-finals | Conference Semi-finals | Conference Finals | Conference Finals | Conference Finals | | WHL Championship | WHL Championship | WHL Championship |
| E1 | Moose Jaw | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| E4 | Regina | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| E4 | Regina | 0 | | | C1 | Medicine Hat | 4 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | E3 | Brandon | 1 | | | | | | | |
| E2 | Prince Albert | 2 | | | E3 | Brandon | 1 | | | | | | | |
| E3 | Brandon | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| E3 | Brandon | 4 | | | | | | C1 | Medicine Hat | 4 | | | | |
| Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | C1 | Medicine Hat | 4 | | | | |
| Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | C2 | Red Deer | 2 | | | | |
| C1 | Medicine Hat | 4 | | | | | | | | | C2 | Red Deer | 2 | | | | |
| C4 | Swift Current | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| C4 | Swift Current | 1 | | | E1 | Moose Jaw | 2 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | C2 | Red Deer | 4 | | | | | | | |
| C2 | Red Deer | 4 | | | C2 | Red Deer | 4 | | | | | | | |
| C3 | Calgary | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| C3 | Calgary | 3 | | | | | | | | | | C1 | Medicine Hat | 4 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | U1 | Everett | 0 |
| B1 | Kelowna | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | U1 | Everett | 0 |
| B4 | Kootenay | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| B4 | Kootenay | 0 | | | B1 | Kelowna | 4 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | U3 | Tri-City | 2 | | | | | | | |
| B2 | Vancouver | 4 | | | U3 | Tri-City | 2 | | | | | | | |
| B3 | Kamloops | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| B3 | Kamloops | 1 | | | | | | U1 | Everett | 4 | | | | |
| Western | Western | Western | Western | Western | Western | Western | Western | U1 | Everett | 4 | | | | |
| Western | Western | Western | Western | Western | Western | Western | Western | B1 | Kelowna | 3 | | | | |
| U1 | Everett | 4 | | | | | | | | | B1 | Kelowna | 3 | | | | |
| U4 | Spokane | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| U4 | Spokane | 0 | | | U1 | Everett | 4 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | B2 | Vancouver | 2 | | | | | | | |
| U2 | Portland | 1 | | | B2 | Vancouver | 2 | | | | | | | |
| U3 | Tri-City | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Conference quarterfinals
#### Eastern Conference

Moose Jaw vs. Regina :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 19 | Regina 0 | 3 Moose Jaw |
| March 20 | Regina 2 | 4 Moose Jaw |
| March 23 | Moose Jaw 5 | 1 Regina |
| March 25 | Moose Jaw 4 | 1 Regina |
| Moose Jaw wins series 4–0 ||||
Prince Albert vs. Brandon :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 18 | Brandon 3 | 2 Prince Albert | OT |
| March 19 | Brandon 1 | 5 Prince Albert |
| March 23 | Prince Albert 1 | 3 Brandon |
| March 24 | Prince Albert 2 | 3 Brandon |
| March 26 | Brandon 2 | 6 Prince Albert |
| March 29 | Prince Albert 1 | 4 Brandon |
| Brandon wins series 4–2 ||||
Medicine Hat vs. Swift Current :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 19 | Swift Current 0 | 3 Medicine Hat |
| March 20 | Swift Current 2 | 4 Medicine Hat |
| March 23 | Medicine Hat 2 | 4 Swift Current |
| March 24 | Medicine Hat 4 | 2 Swift Current |
| March 26 | Swift Current 0 | 8 Medicine Hat |
| Medicine Hat wins series 4–1 ||||
Red Deer vs. Calgary :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 19 | Calgary 0 | 4 Red Deer |
| March 20 | Calgary 3 | 4 Red Deer | 2OT |
| March 23 | Red Deer 0 | 2 Calgary |
| March 25 | Red Deer 4 | 1 Calgary |
| March 27 | Calgary 3 | 1 Red Deer |
| March 30 | Red Deer 0 | 3 Calgary |
| March 31 | Calgary 2 | 4 Red Deer |
| Red Deer wins series 4–3 ||||

#### Western Conference

Kelowna vs. Kootenay :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 19 | Kootenay 3 | 5 Kelowna |
| March 20 | Kootenay 1 | 4 Kelowna |
| March 23 | Kelowna 4 | 0 Kootenay |
| March 24 | Kelowna 3 | 1 Kootenay |
| Kelowna wins series 4–0 ||||
Vancouver vs. Kamloops :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 19 | Kamloops 2 | 1 Vancouver |
| March 20 | Kamloops 2 | 4 Vancouver |
| March 23 | Vancouver 2 | 1 Kamloops |
| March 24 | Vancouver 5 | 3 Kamloops |
| March 27 | Kamloops 4 | 5 Vancouver | OT |
| Vancouver wins series 4–1 ||||
Everett vs. Spokane :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 19 | Spokane 1 | 2 Everett | OT |
| March 20 | Spokane 0 | 3 Everett |
| March 23 | Everett 5 | 4 Spokane | OT |
| March 24 | Everett 3 | 0 Spokane |
| Everett wins series 4–0 ||||
Portland vs Tri-City :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 19 | Tri-City 4 | 2 Portland |
| March 21 | Tri-City 1 | 2 Portland | OT |
| March 23 | Portland 1 | 4 Tri-City |
| March 24 | Portland 2 | 3 Tri-City |
| March 26 | Tri-City 3 | 1 Portland |
| Tri-City wins series 4–1 ||||

### Conference semifinals

Eastern Conference :
Medicine Hat vs. Brandon :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 2 | Brandon 1 | 5 Medicine Hat |
| April 3 | Brandon 2 | 4 Medicine Hat |
| April 6 | Medicine Hat 5 | 3 Brandon |
| April 7 | Medicine Hat 3 | 9 Brandon |
| April 9 | Brandon 1 | 4 Medicine Hat |
| Medicine Hat wins series 4–1 ||||
Moose Jaw vs. Red Deer :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 2 | Red Deer 4 | 3 Moose Jaw |
| April 3 | Red Deer 3 | 2 Moose Jaw |
| April 6 | Moose Jaw 4 | 2 Red Deer |
| April 7 | Moose Jaw 2 | 1 Red Deer | OT |
| April 9 | Red Deer 2 | 1 Moose Jaw | 2OT |
| April 11 | Moose Jaw 0 | Red Deer 3 |
| Red Deer wins series 4–2 ||||
Western Conference :
Kelowna vs. Tri-City :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 2 | Tri-City 3 | 2 Kelowna | OT |
| April 3 | Tri-City 4 | 3 Kelowna | OT |
| April 6 | Kelowna 4 | 1 Tri-City |
| April 7 | Kelowna 4 | 3 Tri-City | OT |
| April 9 | Tri-City 2 | 7 Kelowna |
| April 11 | Kelowna 2 | 1 Tri-City |
| Kelowna wins series 4–2 ||||
Vancouver vs Everett :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 2 | Everett 1 | 2 Vancouver |
| April 3 | Everett 3 | 1 Vancouver |
| April 5 | Vancouver 3 | 1 Everett |
| April 8 | Vancouver 0 | 4 Everett |
| April 9 | Everett 6 | 2 Vancouver |
| April 11 | Vancouver 2 | 3 Everett |
| Everett wins series 4–2 ||||

### Conference finals

| Eastern Conference | Western 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 :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 30 | Everett 1 | 4 Medicine Hat |
| May 1 | Everett 0 | 3 Medicine Hat |
| May 4 | Medicine Hat 3 | 0 Everett |
| May 5 | Medicine Hat 4 | 2 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

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

## All-Star Teams

Eastern Conference :
| | First Team | First Team | Second Team | Second Team |
| Goal | Cam Ward | Red Deer Rebels | Rejean Beauchemin | Prince Albert Raiders |
| Defense | Dion Phaneuf | Red Deer Rebels | Derek Meech | Red Deer Rebels |
| Defense | Mark Ardelan | Prince Albert Raiders | Aaron Rome | Moose Jaw Warriors |
| Forward | Kyle Brodziak | Moose Jaw Warriors | Tomas Fleischmann | Moose Jaw Warriors |
| Forward | Ryan Getzlaf | Calgary Hitmen | Seth Leonard | Prince Albert Raiders |
| Forward | Jeremy Williams | Swift Current Broncos | Tyler Redenbach | Swift Current Broncos |
| Western Conference |||||
| | First Team | First Team | Second Team | Second Team |
| Goal | Kelly Guard | Kelowna Rockets | Jeff Harvey | Everett Silvertips |
| Defense | Josh Gorges | Kelowna Rockets | Richie Regehr | Portland Winter Hawks |
| Defense | Braydon Coburn | Portland Winter Hawks | Shea Weber | Kelowna Rockets |
| Forward | Adam Courchaine | Vancouver Giants | Brandon Dubinsky | Portland Winter Hawks |
| Forward | Nigel Dawes | Kootenay Ice | Chad Klassen | Spokane Chiefs |
| Forward | Ryan Kinasewich | Tri-City Americans | Brad Schell | Spokane Chiefs |
* source: Western Hockey League press release

## 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 |