# 2003–04 AHL season

The 2003–04 AHL season was the 68th season of the American Hockey League. The league introduced the Willie Marshall Award in honor of the career points leader in the AHL, and awards it to the annual top goal scorer.
The AHL switched from a six division alignment to four divisions within two conferences. The Eastern conference consisted of the Atlantic and East divisions, and the Western conference consisted of the North and West divisions. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Milwaukee Admirals finished first overall in the regular season, and won the Calder Cup, defeating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the finals.

## Team changes

* The Saint John Flames suspend operations, becoming dormant.
* The Hamilton Bulldogs and Quebec Citadelles merger dissolves, remaining as a Montreal Canadiens affiliate.
* The Edmonton Oilers affiliation resumed operations as the Toronto Roadrunners, based in Toronto, Ontario, playing in the North division.
* All teams playing in the 2002-03 North Division (Lowell Lock Monsters, Manchester Monarchs, Portland Pirates, Providence Bruins and Worcester IceCats) play in the new Atlantic Division.
* The Hartford Wolf Pack and Springfield Falcons switch from the 2002-03 East Division to the new Atlantic Division.
* All teams playing in the 2002-03 South Division (Hershey Bears, Norfolk Admirals, Philadelphia Phantoms and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins) play in the new East Division.
* The Albany River Rats, Binghamton Senators and Bridgeport Sound Tigers continue to play in the (new) East Division.
* The Hamilton Bulldogs, Manitoba Moose and St. John's Maple Leafs switch from the Canadian Division to the new North Division.
* The Cleveland Barons, Rochester Americans and Syracuse Crunch switch from the Central Division to the new North Division.
* All teams playing in the 2002-03 West Division (Chicago Wolves, Houston Aeros, Milwaukee Admirals, San Antonio Rampage and Utah Grizzlies) continue to play in the West Division.
* The Cincinnati Mighty Ducks and Grand Rapids Griffins switch from the Central Division to the new West Division.

## Final standings

* y– indicates team clinched division and a playoff spot
* x– indicates team clinched a playoff spot
* e– indicates team was eliminated from playoff contention

### Eastern Conference

| Atlantic Division | GP | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | GF | GA |
| y–Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR) | 80 | 44 | 22 | 12 | 2 | 102 | 198 | 153 |
| x–Manchester Monarchs (LAK) | 80 | 40 | 28 | 7 | 5 | 92 | 223 | 181 |
| x–Worcester Ice Cats (STL) | 80 | 37 | 27 | 13 | 3 | 90 | 207 | 186 |
| x–Providence Bruins (BOS) | 80 | 36 | 29 | 11 | 4 | 87 | 170 | 170 |
| x–Portland Pirates (WSH) | 80 | 32 | 27 | 13 | 8 | 85 | 156 | 160 |
| e–Lowell Lock Monsters (CGY/CAR) | 80 | 32 | 36 | 6 | 6 | 76 | 208 | 242 |
| e–Springfield Falcons (PHX) | 80 | 26 | 43 | 9 | 2 | 63 | 179 | 234 |
| East Division | GP | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | GF | GA |
| y–Philadelphia Phantoms (PHI) | 80 | 46 | 25 | 7 | 2 | 101 | 216 | 168 |
| x–Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NYI) | 80 | 41 | 23 | 12 | 4 | 98 | 178 | 140 |
| x–Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT) | 80 | 34 | 28 | 10 | 8 | 86 | 197 | 197 |
| x–Binghamton Senators (OTT) | 80 | 34 | 34 | 9 | 3 | 80 | 210 | 216 |
| x–Norfolk Admirals (CHI) | 80 | 35 | 36 | 4 | 5 | 79 | 172 | 187 |
| e–Hershey Bears (COL/TBL) | 80 | 33 | 34 | 8 | 5 | 79 | 203 | 218 |
| e–Albany River Rats (NJD) | 80 | 21 | 39 | 11 | 9 | 62 | 182 | 257 |

### Western Conference

| North Division | GP | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | GF | GA |
| y–Hamilton Bulldogs (MTL) | 80 | 41 | 25 | 10 | 4 | 96 | 235 | 191 |
| x–Syracuse Crunch (CBJ) | 80 | 38 | 25 | 10 | 7 | 93 | 239 | 235 |
| x–Rochester Americans (BUF) | 80 | 37 | 28 | 10 | 5 | 89 | 207 | 188 |
| x–Cleveland Barons (SJS) | 80 | 37 | 28 | 8 | 7 | 89 | 235 | 220 |
| x–Toronto Roadrunners (EDM) | 80 | 35 | 34 | 8 | 3 | 81 | 219 | 224 |
| e–Manitoba Moose (VAN) | 80 | 32 | 35 | 11 | 2 | 77 | 214 | 232 |
| e–St. John's Maple Leafs (TOR) | 80 | 32 | 36 | 8 | 4 | 76 | 225 | 265 |
| West Division | GP | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | GF | GA |
| y–Milwaukee Admirals (NSH) | 80 | 46 | 24 | 7 | 3 | 102 | 269 | 191 |
| x–Grand Rapids Griffins (DET) | 80 | 44 | 28 | 8 | 0 | 96 | 195 | 166 |
| x–Chicago Wolves (ATL) | 80 | 42 | 26 | 9 | 3 | 96 | 246 | 208 |
| x–Houston Aeros (MIN) | 80 | 28 | 34 | 14 | 4 | 74 | 197 | 220 |
| x–Cincinnati Mighty Ducks (ANA) | 80 | 29 | 37 | 13 | 1 | 72 | 188 | 211 |
| e–San Antonio Rampage (FLA) | 80 | 30 | 42 | 8 | 0 | 68 | 191 | 231 |
| e–Utah Grizzlies (DAL) | 80 | 27 | 42 | 6 | 5 | 65 | 162 | 230 |

## Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Pavel Rosa | Manchester Monarchs | 77 | 39 | 49 | 88 | 32 |
| Domenic Pittis | Rochester Americans | 75 | 20 | 57 | 77 | 137 |
| Miroslav Zalesak | Cleveland Barons | 72 | 35 | 40 | 75 | 80 |
| Eric Perrin | Hershey Bears | 71 | 21 | 54 | 75 | 49 |
| Kirby Law | Philadelphia Phantoms | 74 | 32 | 41 | 73 | 139 |
| Brad Boyes | Cleveland Barons/Providence Bruins | 78 | 31 | 41 | 72 | 51 |
| Steve Kelly | Manchester Monarchs | 59 | 21 | 49 | 70 | 117 |
| Craig Darby | Albany River Rats | 77 | 21 | 48 | 69 | 44 |
| Jeff Hamilton | Bridgeport Sound Tigers | 67 | 43 | 25 | 68 | 26 |
| Donald MacLean | Syracuse Crunch | 77 | 27 | 41 | 68 | 45 |

## Calder Cup Playoffs

| Qualification | Qualification | Qualification |
| A4 | Providence Bruins | 0 |
| A5 | Portland Pirates | 2 |
| Qualification | Qualification | Qualification |
| E4 | Binghamton Senators | 0 |
| E5 | Norfolk Admirals | 2 |
| Qualification | Qualification | Qualification |
| W4 | Houston Aeros | 0 |
| W5 | Cincinnati Mighty Ducks | 2 |
| Qualification | Qualification | Qualification |
| N4 | Cleveland Barons | 2 |
| N5 | Toronto Roadrunners | 1 |
| Division Semi-finals | Division Semi-finals | Division Semi-finals | | | Division Finals | Division Finals | Division Finals | Conference Finals | Conference Finals | Conference Finals | | Calder Cup Finals | Calder Cup Finals | Calder Cup Finals |
| A1 | Hartford | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| A5 | Portland | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| A5 | Portland | 1 | | | A1 | Hartford | 4 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | A3 | Worcester | 0 | | | | | | | |
| A3 | Worcester | 4 | | | A3 | Worcester | 0 | | | | | | | |
| A2 | Manchester | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| A2 | Manchester | 2 | | | | | | A1 | Hartford | 3 | | | | |
| Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | A1 | Hartford | 3 | | | | |
| Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | Eastern | E3 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton | 4 | | | | |
| E1 | Philadelphia | 4 | | | | | | | | | E3 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton | 4 | | | | |
| E5 | Norfolk | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| E5 | Norfolk | 2 | | | E1 | Philadelphia | 2 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | E3 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton | 4 | | | | | | | |
| E3 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton | 4 | | | E3 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton | 4 | | | | | | | |
| E2 | Bridgeport Sound | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| E2 | Bridgeport Sound | 3 | | | | | | | | | | E3 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton | 0 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | W1 | Milwaukee | 4 |
| N1 | Hamilton | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | W1 | Milwaukee | 4 |
| N4 | Cleveland | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| N4 | Cleveland | 2 | | | N1 | Hamilton | 0 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | N3 | Rochester | 4 | | | | | | | |
| N3 | Rochester | 4 | | | N3 | Rochester | 4 | | | | | | | |
| N2 | Syracuse Crunch | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| N2 | Syracuse Crunch | 3 | | | | | | N3 | Rochester | 1 | | | | |
| Western | Western | Western | Western | Western | Western | Western | Western | N3 | Rochester | 1 | | | | |
| Western | Western | Western | Western | Western | Western | Western | Western | W1 | Milwaukee | 4 | | | | |
| W1 | Milwaukee | 4 | | | | | | | | | W1 | Milwaukee | 4 | | | | |
| W5 | Cincinnati | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| W5 | Cincinnati | 3 | | | W1 | Milwaukee | 4 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | W3 | Chicago | 2 | | | | | | | |
| W3 | Chicago | 4 | | | W3 | Chicago | 2 | | | | | | | |
| W2 | Grand Rapids | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## All Star Classic

The 17th AHL All-Star Classic was played on February 9, 2004, at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Team Canada defeated team PlanetUSA 9-5. In the skills competition held the night before, team PlanetUSA defeated team Canada 18-9.

## Trophy and award winners
### Team awards

| Calder Cup Playoff champions: | Milwaukee Admirals |
| Richard F. Canning Trophy Eastern Conference playoff champions: | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins |
| Robert W. Clarke Trophy Western Conference playoff champions: | Milwaukee Admirals |
| Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy Regular season champions, League: | Milwaukee Admirals |
| Frank Mathers Trophy Regular Season champions, Eastern Conference: | Hartford Wolf Pack |
| Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy Regular Season champions, Western Conference: | Milwaukee Admirals |
| Emile Francis Trophy Regular Season champions, Atlantic Division: | Hartford Wolf Pack |
| F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy Regular Season champions, East Division: | Philadelphia Phantoms |
| Sam Pollock Trophy Regular Season champions, North Division: | Hamilton Bulldogs |
| John D. Chick Trophy Regular Season champions, West Division: | Milwaukee Admirals |

### Individual awards

| Les Cunningham Award Most valuable player: | Jason LaBarbera - Hartford Wolf Pack |
| John B. Sollenberger Trophy Top point scorer: | Pavel Rosa - Manchester Monarchs |
| Willie Marshall Award Top goal scorer: | Jeff Hamilton - Bridgeport Sound Tigers |
| Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award Rookie of the year: | Wade Dubielewicz - Bridgeport Sound Tigers |
| Eddie Shore Award Defenceman of the year: | Curtis Murphy - Milwaukee Admirals |
| Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award Best Goaltender: | Jason LaBarbera - Hartford Wolf Pack |
| Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award Lowest Goals Against Average: | Wade Dubielewicz & Dieter Kochan - Bridgeport Sound Tigers |
| Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award Coach of the year: | Claude Noel - Milwaukee Admirals |
| Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award Sportsmanship / Perseverance: | Ken Gernander - Hartford Wolf Pack |
| Yanick Dupre Memorial Award Community Service Award: | Kurtis Foster - Chicago Wolves |
| Jack A. Butterfield Trophy MVP of the playoffs: | Wade Flaherty - Milwaukee Admirals |

### Other awards

| James C. Hendy Memorial Award Most outstanding executive: | Jeff Eisenberg, Manchester Monarchs |
| Thomas Ebright Memorial Award Career contributions: | Roy Boe & Jack Kelley |
| James H. Ellery Memorial Awards Outstanding media coverage: | Mike Fornabaio, Bridgeport, (newspaper) John Walton, Hershey, (radio) Comcast Cable, Chicago, (television) |
| Ken McKenzie Award Outstanding marketing executive: | Chris Schwartz, St. John's Maple Leafs |
| Michael Condon Memorial Award Outstanding service, on-ice official: | Dan Murphy |