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 TeamDIV 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 TeamDIV 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
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) Date Away Home April 18 Toronto 3 0 Ottawa April 20 Ottawa 1 2 Toronto April 22 Toronto 0 6 Ottawa April 24 Ottawa 4 2 Toronto April 25 Toronto 6 2 Ottawa April 27 Ottawa 3 2 Toronto OT April 28 Toronto 2 5 Ottawa Ottawa wins series 4–3 Kitchener (1) vs. Plymouth (2) Date Away Home April 16 Plymouth 3 1 Kitchener April 18 Kitchener 6 1 Plymouth April 20 Plymouth 2 3 Kitchener April 22 Kitchener 2 3 Plymouth April 24 Plymouth 2 1 Kitchener OT April 26 Kitchener 7 4 Plymouth April 28 Plymouth 1 3 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 2002-03 Kitchener Rangers Goaltenders
Defencemen
Wingers
Centres
- C
Coach: Peter DeBoer General Manager: Peter DeBoer
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 RangersHamilton Spectator Trophy: Kitchener RangersBobby Orr Trophy: Ottawa 67'sWayne Gretzky Trophy: Kitchener RangersLeyden Trophy: Ottawa 67'sEmms Trophy: Brampton BattalionHolody Trophy: Kitchener RangersBumbacco Trophy: Plymouth WhalersRed Tilson Trophy: Corey Locke, Ottawa 67'sEddie Powers Memorial Trophy: Corey Locke, Ottawa 67's Matt Leyden Trophy: Brian Kilrea, Ottawa 67'sJim Mahon Memorial Trophy: Matt Foy, Ottawa 67'sMax Kaminsky Trophy: Brendan Bell, Ottawa 67'sOHL Goaltender of the Year: Andy Chiodo, Toronto St. Michael's MajorsJack Ferguson Award: Patrick McNeill, Saginaw SpiritDave Pinkney Trophy: Paul Drew and Jeff Weber, Plymouth Whalers OHL Executive of the Year: Steve Bienkowski, Kitchener RangersBill Long Award: Norm Bryan, Peterborough PetesEmms Family Award: Rob Schremp, Mississauga IceDogsF.W. 'Dinty' Moore Trophy: Ryan Munce, Sarnia StingOHL Humanitarian of the Year: Michael Mole, Belleville BullsWilliam Hanley Trophy: Kyle Wellwood, Windsor Spitfires Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy: Chad Larose, Plymouth WhalersBobby Smith Trophy: Dustin Brown, Guelph StormTim Adams Memorial Trophy: Jhase Sniderman, Toronto Young NatsWayne 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.