2002–03 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season

The 2002–03 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season began on October 4, 2002 and concluded with the 2003 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament's championship game on April 12, 2003 at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York. This was the 56th season in which an NCAA ice hockey championship was held and is the 108th year overall where an NCAA school fielded a team. The 2002-03 season was the final year for the MAAC hockey conference when Iona and Fairfield ended their programs at the conclusion of the season.
The NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament expanded to 16 teams for the first time in 2003. As a result two regional sites were added for the new Northeast and Midwest brackets.
==Pre-season polls==
The top 15 from USCHO.com/CBS College Sports and the top 15 from USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"	USCHO.com/CBS College Sports	USCHO.com/CBS College Sports
Ranking	Team 	
1 	Minnesota (22) 	
2 	Denver (13) 	
3 	Michigan (3) 	
4 	New Hampshire (1) 	
5 	Boston University (2) 	
6 	Maine 	
7 	Michigan State 	
8 	Cornell 	
9 	Boston College 	
10 	Colorado College 	
11 	St. Cloud State 	
12 	Northern Michigan 	
13 	North Dakota 	
14 	Harvard 	
15 	Ohio State 	
==Regular season==
===Standings===
==2003 NCAA Tournament==
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
==Player stats==
===Scoring leaders===
The following players led the league in points at the conclusion of the season.
 
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
Player	Class 	Team 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
 	Junior 	Colorado College 	42	36	46	82 	12
 	Senior 	Ferris State 	42	35	44	79 	47
 	Senior 	Colorado College 	42	21	49	70 	15
 	Junior 	Minnesota State-Mankato	41	29	36	65 	6
 	Sophomore	Minnesota State-Mankato	38	27	36	63 	38
 	Sophomore	North Dakota 	43	35	27	62 	42
 	Freshman 	Minnesota 	45	31	31	62 	60
 	Freshman 	North Dakota 	39	26	35	61 	34
 	Sophomore	Ferris State 	42	24	35	59 	35
 	Junior 	Boston College 	36	18	39	57 	18
===Leading goaltenders===
The following goaltenders led the league in goals against average at the end of the regular season while playing at least 33% of their team's total minutes.
GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
Player	Class 	Team 	GP	Min 	W 	L 	OT	GA	SO	SV% 	GAA
 	Sophomore	Cornell 	32	1946	28	3 	1 	39	9 	.940	1.20
 	Sophomore	Maine 	21	1179	10	4 	5 	42	2 	.915	2.14
 	Junior 	New Hampshire 	41	2499	27	8 	6 	91	7 	.926	2.18
 	Sophomore	Boston College	30	1843	18	9 	3 	68	1 	.903	2.21
 	Junior 	Ohio State 	36	2140	20	11	5 	80	2 	.903	2.24
 	Senior 	Sacred Heart 	29	1769	12	12	5 	67	3 	.924	2.27
 	Junior 	Denver 	26	1435	12	6 	4 	55	3 	.908	2.30
 	Junior 	Brown 	34	2074	15	14	5 	80	5 	.929	2.31
 	Freshman 	Michigan 	43	2547	30	10	3 	99	4 	.911	2.33
 	Sophomore	Ferris State 	41	2403	30	10	1 	94	4 	.925	2.35
==Awards==
===NCAA===
Award 	Award 	Recipient
Hobey Baker Memorial Award 	Hobey Baker Memorial Award 	Peter Sejna, Colorado College
Spencer T. Penrose Award (Coach of the Year)	Spencer T. Penrose Award (Coach of the Year)	Bob Daniels, Ferris State
Most Outstanding Player in NCAA Tournament 	Most Outstanding Player in NCAA Tournament 	Thomas Vanek, Minnesota
AHCA All-American Teams 	AHCA All-American Teams	AHCA All-American Teams
East First Team 	  Position   	West First Team
David LeNeveu, Cornell 	G 	Mike Brown, Ferris State
Freddy Meyer, Boston University	D 	John-Michael Liles, Michigan State
Douglas Murray, Cornell 	D 	Tom Preissing, Colorado College
Ben Eaves, Boston College 	F 	Noah Clarke, Colorado College
Christopher Higgins, Yale 	F 	Chris Kunitz, Ferris State
Dominic Moore, Harvard 	F 	Peter Sejna, Colorado College
East Second Team 	  Position   	West Second Team
Mike Ayers, New Hampshire 	G 	Curtis McElhinny, Colorado College
J. D. Forrest, Boston College 	D 	Brad Fast, Michigan State
Noah Welch, Harvard 	D 	Paul Martin, Minnesota
Stephen Baby, Cornell 	F 	Shane Joseph, Minnesota State-Mankato
Lanny Gare, New Hampshire 	F 	Grant Stevenson, Minnesota State-Mankato
Colin Hemingway, New Hampshire 	F 	R.J. Umberger, Ohio State
===CCHA===
Awards 	Awards 	Recipient
Player of the Year 	Player of the Year 	Chris Kunitz, Ferris State
Best Defensive Forward 	Best Defensive Forward 	Jed Ortmeyer, Michigan
Best Defensive Defenseman 	Best Defensive Defenseman 	Brad Fast, Michigan State
Best Offensive Defenseman 	Best Offensive Defenseman 	John-Michael Liles, Michigan State
Rookie of the Year 	Rookie of the Year 	Jeff Tambellini, Michigan
Goaltender of the Year 	Goaltender of the Year 	Mike Betz, Ohio State
Coach of the Year 	Coach of the Year 	Bob Daniels, Ferris State
Terry Flanagan Memorial Award 	Terry Flanagan Memorial Award 	Brian Maloney, Michigan State
Ilitch Humanitarian Award 	Ilitch Humanitarian Award 	Mike Betz, Ohio State
Perani Cup Champion 	Perani Cup Champion 	Mike Brown, Ferris State
Most Valuable Player in Tournament	Most Valuable Player in Tournament	Jed Ortmeyer, Michigan
All-CCHA Teams 	All-CCHA Teams 	All-CCHA Teams
First Team 	  Position  	Second Team
Mike Brown, Ferris State 	G 	Mike Betz, Ohio State
Brad Fast, Michigan State 	D 	Simon Mangos, Ferris State
John-Michael Liles, Michigan State	D 	Troy Milam, Ferris State
Chris Kunitz, Ferris State 	F 	Mike Kompon, Miami
Jim Slater, Michigan State 	F 	Jeff Legue, Ferris State
R.J. Umberger, Ohio State 	F 	Jeff Tambellini, Michigan
Rookie Team 	  Position  	
Al Montoya, Michigan 	G 	
Andy Greene, Michigan 	D 	
Danny Richmond, Michigan 	D 	
Vince Bellissimo, Western Michigan	F 	
David Booth, Michigan State 	F 	
Jeff Tambellini, Michigan 	F 	
===CHA===
Award 	Award 	Recipient
Player of the Year 	Player of the Year 	Joe Tallari, Niagara
Rookie of the Year 	Rookie of the Year 	Scott Munroe, Alabama-Huntsville
Coach of the Year 	Coach of the Year 	Doug Ross, Alabama-Huntsville
Student-Athlete of the Year 	Student-Athlete of the Year 	Jason Maxwell, Findlay
Most Valuable Player in Tournament	Most Valuable Player in Tournament	Marc St. Jean, Wayne State
All-CHA Teams 	All-CHA Teams 	All-CHA Teams
First Team 	  Position  	Second Team
Grady Hunt, Bemidji State 	G 	Scott Munroe, Alabama-Huntsville
Ryan Leasa, Alabama-Huntsville 	D 	Tyler Butler, Alabama-Huntsville
Bryce Methven, Bemidji State 	D 	Keith Stanich, Wayne State
Joe Tallari, Niagara 	F 	Steve Cherlebois, Alabama-Huntsville
Marty Goulet, Bemidji State 	F 	Andy Berg, Air Force
Jared Ross, Alabama-Huntsville 	F 	Barret Ehgoetz, Niagara
Rookie Team 	  Position  	
Scott Munroe, Alabama-Huntsville 	G 	
Jeremy Schreiber, Alabama-Huntsville	D 	
Brian Hartman, Niagara 	D 	
Derek MacKay, Wayne State 	F 	
Andrew Radzak, Findlay 	F 	
Jason Williamson, Niagara 	F 	
===ECAC===
Award 	Award 	Recipient
Player of the Year 	Player of the Year 	Christopher Higgins, Yale
 	 	David LeNeveu, Cornell
Rookie of the Year 	Rookie of the Year 	Hugh Jessiman, Dartmouth
Coach of the Year 	Coach of the Year 	Mike Schafer, Cornell
Best Defensive Forward 	Best Defensive Forward 	Stephen Bâby, Cornell
Best Defensive Defenseman 	Best Defensive Defenseman 	Douglas Murray, Cornell
Ken Dryden Award 	Ken Dryden Award 	David LeNeveu, Cornell
Most Outstanding Player in Tournament	Most Outstanding Player in Tournament	David LeNeveu, Cornell
All-ECAC Hockey Teams 	All-ECAC Hockey Teams 	All-ECAC Hockey Teams
First Team 	  Position  	Second Team
David LeNeveu, Cornell 	G 	Yann Danis, Brown
Douglas Murray, Cornell 	D 	Noah Welch, Harvard
Randy Jones, Clarkson 	D 	Trevor Byrne, Dartmouth
Dominic Moore, Harvard 	F 	Scooter Smith, Colgate
Tim Pettit, Harvard 	F 	Stephen Baby, Cornell
Christopher Higgins, Yale	F 	Ryan Vesce, Cornell
Rookie Team 	  Position  	
Kris Mayotte, Union 	G 	
Sean Offers, Dartmouth 	D 	
Jaime Sifers, Vermont 	D 	
Kevin Croxton, Rensselaer	F 	
Hugh Jessiman, Dartmouth 	F 	
John Zeiler, St. Lawrence	F 	
===Hockey East===
Award 	Award 	Recipient
Player of the Year 	Player of the Year 	Mike Ayers, New Hampshire
 	 	Ben Eaves, Boston College
Rookie of the Year 	Rookie of the Year 	Jimmy Howard, Maine
Bob Kullen Coach of the Year Award 	Bob Kullen Coach of the Year Award 	Don Cahoon, Massachusetts
Len Ceglarski Sportsmanship Award 	Len Ceglarski Sportsmanship Award 	Martin Kariya, Maine
Best Defensive Forward 	Best Defensive Forward 	Mark Mullen, Boston University
Best Defensive Defenseman 	Best Defensive Defenseman 	Cliff Loya, Maine
Three-Stars Award 	Three-Stars Award 	Ben Eaves, Boston College
 	 	Joe Exter, Merrimack
William Flynn Tournament Most Valuable Player	William Flynn Tournament Most Valuable Player	Sean Fields, Boston University
All-Hockey East Teams 	All-Hockey East Teams 	All-Hockey East Teams
First Team 	  Position  	Second Team
Mike Ayers, New Hampshire 	G 	Joe Exter, Merrimack
Freddy Meyer, Boston University 	D 	J.D. Forest, Boston College
Francis Nault, Maine 	D 	Thomas Pöck, Massachusetts
 	D 	Stephen Wood, Providence
Ben Eaves, Boston College 	F 	Colin Hemingway, New Hampshire
Lanny Gare, New Hampshire 	F 	Lucas Lawson, Maine
Martin Kariya, Maine 	F 	Ed McGrane, Massachusetts-Lowell
Rookie Team 	  Position  	
Jimmy Howard, Maine 	G 	
Jekabs Redlihs, Boston University 	D 	
Bryan Schmidt, Merrimack 	D 	
Chris Collins, Boston College 	F 	
Mike Morris, Northeastern 	F 	
David Van der Gulik, Boston University	F 	
Stephen Werner, Massachusetts 	F 	
===MAAC===
Award 	Award 	Recipient
Offensive Player of the Year 	Offensive Player of the Year 	Brandon Doria, Holy Cross
Defensive Player of the Year 	Defensive Player of the Year 	Wade Winkler, Quinnipiac
Goaltender of the Year 	Goaltender of the Year 	Brad Roberts, Army
 	 	Eddy Ferhi, Sacred Heart
Offensive Rookie of the Year 	Offensive Rookie of the Year 	Tyler McGregor, Holy Cross
 	 	Scott Reynolds, Mercyhurst
Defensive Rookie of the Year 	Defensive Rookie of the Year 	Brad Roberts, Army
Coach of the Year 	Coach of the Year 	Ryan Soderquist, Bentley
Tournament Most Valuable Player	Tournament Most Valuable Player	David Wrigley, Mercyhurst
All-MAAC Teams 	All-MAAC Teams 	All-MAAC Teams
First Team 	  Position  	Second Team
Brad Roberts, Army 	G 	Simon St. Pierre, Bentley
Eddy Ferhi, Sacred Heart 	G 	
Wade Winkler, Quinnipiac 	D 	T. J. Kemp, Mercyhurst
Les Hrapchak, Sacred Heart 	D 	Joe Dudek, Army
Brandon Doria, Holy Cross 	F 	Brian Herbert, Quinnipiac
Martin Paquet, Sacred Heart	F 	Rich Hansen, Mercyhurst
Matt Craig, Quinnipiac 	F 	Rae Metz, Fairfield
Rookie Team 	  Position  	
Brad Roberts, Army 	G 	
Conrad Martin, Mercyhurst 	D 	
Tim Songin, Canisius 	D 	
Ryan Swanson, Iona 	D 	
Tyler McGregor, Holy Cross 	F 	
Paul Markarian, Bentley 	F 	
Ryan Mayhew, Bentley 	F 	
Scott Reynolds, Mercyhurst 	F 	
===WCHA===
Award 	Award 	Recipient
Player of the Year 	Player of the Year 	Peter Sejna, Colorado College
Defensive Player of the Year 	Defensive Player of the Year 	Joe Cullen, Colorado College
 	 	Aaron MacKenzie, Denver
Rookie of the Year 	Rookie of the Year 	Thomas Vanek, Minnesota
Student-Athlete of the Year 	Student-Athlete of the Year 	Tom Preissing, Colorado College
Coach of the Year 	Coach of the Year 	Troy Jutting, Minnesota State-Mankato
Most Valuable Player in Tournament	Most Valuable Player in Tournament	Grant Potulny, Minnesota
All-WCHA Teams 	All-WCHA Teams 	All-WCHA Teams
First Team 	  Position  	Second Team
Curtis McElhinney, Colorado College 	G 	Wade Dubielewicz, Denver
Tom Preissing, Colorado College 	D 	Aaron MacKenzie, Denver
Paul Martin, Minnesota 	D 	Keith Ballard, Minnesota
Peter Sejna, Colorado College 	F 	Noah Clarke, Colorado College
Shane Joseph, Minnesota State-Mankato 	F 	Thomas Vanek, Minnesota
Grant Stevenson, Minnesota State-Mankato	F 	Brandon Bochenski, North Dakota
Third Team 	  Position  	Rookie Team
Iassc Reichmuth, Minnesota-Duluth 	G 	Iassc Reichmuth, Minnesota-Duluth
Andy Schneider, North Dakota 	D 	Mark Stuart, Colorado College
David Hale, North Dakota 	D 	Chris Harrington, Minnesota
Zach Parise, North Dakota 	F 	Thomas Vanek, Minnesota
Kevin Doell, Denver 	F 	Zach Parise, North Dakota
Troy Riddle, Minnesota 	F 	Brett Sterling, Colorado College
==Team Photos==
02-03UMinn.jpg|Minnesota Golden Gophers (WCHA)
02-03Cornell.jpg|Cornell Big Red (ECAC)
02-03Wisconsin.jpg|Wisconsin Badgers (WCHA)
02-03FerrisState.jpg|Ferris State Bulldogs (CCHA)
02-03MinnState.jpg|Minnesota State Mavericks (WCHA)
==References==
==External links==
*USCHO.com
*College Hockey Historical Archives
*Inside College Hockey
*College Hockey Stats.net
Category:NCAA seasons
Category:2002 in hockey