2002–03 ECHL season

The 2002–03 ECHL season was the 15th season of the East Coast Hockey League. The Brabham Cup regular season champions were the Toledo Storm and the Kelly Cup playoff champions were the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies.

2002–03 ECHL season
LeagueEast Coast Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Regular season
Brabham CupToledo Storm
Season MVPBud Smith (Arkansas)
Top scorerBud Smith (Arkansas)
Playoffs
Northern championsAtlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
  Northern runners-upCincinnati Cyclones
Southern championsColumbia Inferno
  Southern runners-upMississippi Sea Wolves
Playoffs MVPKevin Colley (Atlantic City)
Finals
ChampionsAtlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
  Runners-upColumbia Inferno

League changes

The Macon Whoopee relocated to Lexington, Kentucky, as the Lexington Men O' War.

The New Orleans Brass ceased operations due to the arrival of the New Orleans Hornets basketball team. The NBA team moved into the Brass' arena but wanted the Brass to pay for every conversion between the hockey and basketball configuration, an expense the Brass could not afford.

The Mobile Mysticks also suspended operations prior to the season and would relocate to Duluth, Georgia, beginning with the 2003–04 season.

All-Star Game

The ECHL All-Star Game was held at Germain Arena in Estero, Florida and was hosted by the Florida Everblades. The Northern Conference All-Stars dominated the game, beating the Southern Conference All-Stars 8–2. Atlantic City's Scott Stirling was named Most Valuable Player.

Regular season

Final standings

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L= Losses; SOL = Shootout Losses; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points
Green shade = Clinched playoff spot; Blue shade = Clinched division; (z) = Clinched home-ice advantage[1][2]

Northern Conference
Northeast Division GP W L SOL Pts GF GA
Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies7241191294268224
Greensboro Generals724221993235211
Roanoke Express724224690265239
Trenton Titans7238241086229207
Charlotte Checkers724128385262234
Richmond Renegades723531676240239
Reading Royals723235569261303
Northwest Division GP W L SOL Pts GF GA
Toledo Storm (z)72471510104247196
Peoria Rivermen7248177103241181
Cincinnati Cyclones723629779257236
Lexington Men O' War723431775188212
Johnstown Chiefs7228331167214243
Wheeling Nailers722841359193261
Dayton Bombers7224381058191247

Southern Conference
Southeast Division GP W L SOL Pts GF GA
Columbia Inferno (z)724723296265202
South Carolina Stingrays724222892248225
Pee Dee Pride724026686244213
Florida Everblades7235231484239243
Greenville Grrrowl722836864217262
Augusta Lynx722739660203256
Columbus Cottonmouths722539858197270
Southwest Division GP W L SOL Pts GF GA
Mississippi Sea Wolves724424492250211
Louisiana IceGators7240201292249210
Arkansas RiverBlades7237241185238236
Jackson Bandits723826884210195
Pensacola Ice Pilots723330975228241
Baton Rouge Kingfish722043949184266

Kelly Cup playoffs

Northern Conference
Divisional Semifinals
April 2–8 		Division Finals
April 11–18 		Conference Finals
April 23-May 3
         
NE1 Atlantic City 3
NE4 Trenton 0
NE1 Atlantic City 3
NE2 Greensboro 1
NE2 Greensboro 3
NE3 Roanoke 1
NE1 Atlantic City 4
NW3 Cincinnati 3
NW2 Peoria 1
NW3 Cincinnati 3
NW1 Toledo 1
NW3 Cincinnati 3
NW1 Toledo 3
NW4 Lexington 0

Division semifinals
Northeast Division Semifinals
Atlantic City vs. Trenton
DateAwayHome
April 2Trenton 3Atlantic City 4
April 4Trenton 0Atlantic City 4
April 7Atlantic City 7Trenton 3
Atlantic City wins series 3–0
Northeast Division Semifinals
Greensboro vs. Roanoke
DateAwayHome
April 3Roanoke 2Greensboro 7
April 4Roanoke 3Greensboro 1
April 5Greensboro 3Roanoke 2
April 8Greensboro 5Roanoke 3
Greensboro wins series 3–1
Northwest Division Semifinals
Toledo vs. Lexington
DateAwayHome
April 2Lexington 1Toledo 9
April 4Lexington 0Toledo 3
April 5Lexington 1Toledo 5
Toledo wins series 3–0
Northwest Division Semifinals
Peoria vs. Cincinnati
DateAwayHome
April 1Cincinnati 4Peoria 3
April 2Cincinnati 1Peoria 2OT
April 5Peoria 0Cincinnati 1OT
April 6Peoria 3Cincinnati 42OT
Cincinnati wins series 3–1

Division finals
Northeast Division Finals
Atlantic City vs. Greensboro
DateAwayHome
April 11Greensboro 2Atlantic City 3OT
April 12Greensboro 3Atlantic City 2OT
April 16Atlantic City 6Greensboro 3
April 18Atlantic City 3Greensboro 2
Atlantic City wins series 3–1
Northwest Division Finals
Toledo vs. Cincinnati
DateAwayHome
April 11Cincinnati 2Toledo 1
April 12Cincinnati 4Toledo 2
April 15Toledo 1Cincinnati 0
April 16Toledo 1Cincinnati 4
Cincinnati wins series 3–1

Conference finals
Northern Conference Finals
Atlantic City vs. Cincinnati
DateAwayHome
April 23Cincinnati 4Atlantic City 5
April 25Cincinnati 0Atlantic City 5
April 26Atlantic City 3Cincinnati 1
April 28Atlantic City 1Cincinnati 3
April 29Atlantic City 3Cincinnati 6
May 2Cincinnati 4Atlantic City 3
May 3Cincinnati 2Atlantic City 3
Atlantic City wins series 4–3
and Gingher Memorial Trophy

Southern Conference

  Divisional Wildcards
April 1		 Divisional Semifinals
April 2–7		 Divisional Finals
April 9–16		 Conference Finals
April 23-May 2
                                     
  SE1 Columbia 3  
  SE5 Greenville 0  
SE4 Florida 0  
SE5 Greenville 1
  SE1 Columbia 3  
  SE3 Pee Dee 0  
SE2 South Carolina 1
SE3 Pee Dee 3  
  SE1 Columbia 4
  SW1 Mississippi 2
SW2 Louisiana 3  
SW3 Arkansas 0  
  SW2 Louisiana 0
  SW1 Mississippi 3  
SW4 Jackson 0  
SW5 Pensacola 1  
  SW1 Mississippi 3
SW5 Pensacola 0  

1st round

Southeast Division Wildcard
Florida vs. Greenville
DateAwayHome
April 1Greenville 3Florida 2
Greenville wins series 1–0
Southwest Division Wildcard
Jackson vs. Pensacola
DateAwayHome
April 1Pensacola 3Jackson 2OT
Pensacola wins series 1–0

Division Semifinals

Southeast Division Semifinals
Columbia vs. Greenville
DateAwayHome
April 2Greenville 2Columbia 6
April 4Greenville 4Columbia 6
April 7Columbia 6Greenville 4
Columbia wins series 3–0
Southeast Division Semifinals
South Carolina vs. Pee Dee
DateAwayHome
April 2Pee Dee 3South Carolina 0
April 4Pee Dee 1South Carolina 7
April 5South Carolina 3Pee Dee 4
April 7South Carolina 3Pee Dee 4OT
Pee Dee wins series 3–1
Southwest Division Semifinals
Mississippi vs. Pensacola
DateAwayHome
April 2Pensacola 1Mississippi 5
April 4Pensacola 1Mississippi 5
April 5Mississippi 5Pensacola 1
Mississippi wins series 3–0
Southwest Division Semifinals
Louisiana vs. Arkansas
DateAwayHome
April 2Arkansas 0Louisiana 2
April 3Arkansas 1Louisiana 2
April 5Louisiana 3Arkansas 1
Louisiana wins series 3–0

Division finals

Southeast Division Finals
Columbia vs. Pee Dee
DateAwayHome
April 11Pee Dee 2Columbia 5
April 12Pee Dee 1Columbia 2
April 16Columbia 5Pee Dee 1
Columbia wins series 3–0
Southwest Division Finals
Mississippi vs. Louisiana
DateAwayHome
April 9Louisiana 2Mississippi 5
April 12Mississippi 4Louisiana 0
April 14Louisiana 2Mississippi 3
Mississippi wins series 3–0

Conference finals

Southern Conference Finals
Columbia vs. Mississippi
DateAwayHome
April 23Mississippi 2Columbia 5
April 25Mississippi 2Columbia 3OT
April 27Columbia 4Mississippi 3
April 28Columbia 1Mississippi 3
April 30Columbia 1Mississippi 2OT
May 2Mississippi 2Columbia 4
Columbia wins series 4–2
and Bruce Taylor Trophy

Kelly Cup finals
Columbia vs. Atlantic City
DateAwayHome
May 7Atlantic City 1Columbia 0
May 9Atlantic City 3Columbia 0
May 10Columbia 5Atlantic City 3
May 12Columbia 1Atlantic City 3
May 14Columbia 1Atlantic City 3
Atlantic City wins series 4–1
and Kelly Cup

ECHL awards
See also: ECHL awards
Patrick Kelly Cup:Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
Henry Brabham Cup:Toledo Storm
Gingher Memorial Trophy:Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
Bruce Taylor Trophy:Columbia Inferno
John Brophy Award:Claude Noel (Toledo)
CCM TACKS Most Valuable Player:Bud Smith (Arkansas)
Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player:Kevin Colley (Atlantic City)
Reebok Hockey Goaltender of the Year:Alfie Michaud (Peoria)
CCM Tacks Rookie of the Year:Jason Jaffray (Roanoke)
Defenseman of the Year:Jim Baxter (Mississippi)
Leading Scorer:Bud Smith (Arkansas)
Reebok Hockey Plus Performer Award:Dennis Vial (Columbia)
Mike Glumac (Pee Dee)
Sportsmanship Award:Rejean Stringer (Columbia)

See also

References
  1. "2002–03 ECHL Standings". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
  2. "2002–03 ECHL Stats" (PDF). ECHL. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 9, 2017. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
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