2002-03 ECHL season
Encyclopedia
The 2002-03 ECHL season
was the 15th season of the ECHL
. 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. At the end of the season five teams, the Richmond Renegades
, Arkansas RiverBlades
, Jackson Bandits
, Baton Rouge Kingfish
, and Lexington Men O' War
all ceased to operate.
Season (sports)
In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...
was the 15th season of the ECHL
ECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
. The ECHL All-Star Game
ECHL All-Star Game
The ECHL All-Star Game is an exhibition ice hockey game that traditionally marks the midway point of the ECHL's regular season, with many of the league's star players playing against each other. The starting lineup for the two teams, including the starting goaltender, is voted on by the coaches,...
was held at Germain Arena
Germain Arena
Germain Arena is a 7,128-seat multi-purpose arena in Estero, Florida, United States.The arena was first named Everblades Arena in 1998 after the hockey team that played there. TECO Energy was the first company to obtain the naming rights to the building, changing the name to TECO Arena. In 2004,...
in Estero, Florida
Estero, Florida
Estero is a census-designated place in Lee County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the CDP population was 18,176. It is the home of Germain Arena, which hosts the home games for the Florida Everblades ECHL hockey team and the Florida Firecats af2 arena football team...
and was hosted by the Florida Everblades
Florida Everblades
The Florida Everblades are an ECHL ice hockey team playing in the Southeast Division. The team is based in Estero, Florida and plays at Germain Arena . The team has existed since 1998...
. The Northern Conference All-Stars dominated the game, beating the Southern Conference All-Stars 8:2. Atlantic City's
Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
The Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies were an ECHL hockey team in Atlantic City, New Jersey from 2001 to 2005. The team's venue was the historic Boardwalk Hall, which seats 6,979....
Scott Stirling was named Most Valuable Player. At the end of the season five teams, the Richmond Renegades
Richmond Renegades
The Richmond Renegades was a SPHL ice hockey team in Richmond, Virginia. The team, owned by Allan B. Harvie Jr., the founder of the former ECHL Renegades franchise, began play in October 2006 at the Richmond Coliseum. The team's first head coach was John Brophy...
, Arkansas RiverBlades
Arkansas RiverBlades
The Arkansas RiverBlades was a short-lived minor-league ice hockey team located in North Little Rock, Arkansas.The Arkansas RiverBlades was an expansion franchise that entered the East Coast Hockey League for the 1998–99 season...
, Jackson Bandits
Jackson Bandits
The Jackson Bandits were a minor league professional ice hockey team and member of the East Coast Hockey League . The Bandits played at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson, Mississippi between the 1999-2000 and 2002-03 seasons...
, Baton Rouge Kingfish
Baton Rouge Kingfish
The Baton Rouge Kingfish were a minor professional ice hockey team in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as a member of the East Coast Hockey League. The franchise arrived in Baton Rouge in 1996 after relocating from Erie, Pennsylvania, where they had played as the Erie Panthers since 1988 as one of the...
, and Lexington Men O' War
Lexington Men O' War
The Lexington Men O' War were a minor league professional ice hockey team and member of the ECHL. The Men O' War played at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky from 2002-2003. Like Lexington's previous team before them , success on the ice did not bring good attendance figures...
all ceased to operate.
Final standings
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L= Loses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points; Green shade = Clinched playoff spot; Blue shade = Clinched division; (z) = Clinched home-ice advantageNorthern Conference
| Northeast Division | GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies The Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies were an ECHL hockey team in Atlantic City, New Jersey from 2001 to 2005. The team's venue was the historic Boardwalk Hall, which seats 6,979.... |
72 | 41 | 19 | 12 | 94 | 268 | 224 |
| Greensboro Generals Greensboro Generals The Greensboro Generals were an ECHL team that existed from 1999-2004. The franchise replaced the Greensboro Monarchs, who called the city home from 1989-1995.... |
72 | 42 | 21 | 9 | 93 | 235 | 211 |
| Roanoke Express Roanoke Express The Roanoke Express were a team in the ECHL from 1993 until 2004. Home games were played at the Roanoke Civic Center in Roanoke, Virginia.-History:... |
72 | 42 | 24 | 6 | 90 | 265 | 239 |
| Trenton Titans Trenton Titans The Trenton Titans are a professional minor league ice hockey team that currently plays in the ECHL. The team participates in the Atlantic Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. The Titans play their home games at the Sun National Bank Center in Trenton, New Jersey. Established in 1999, the... |
72 | 38 | 24 | 10 | 86 | 229 | 207 |
| Charlotte Checkers | 72 | 41 | 28 | 3 | 85 | 262 | 234 |
| Richmond Renegades Richmond Renegades The Richmond Renegades was a SPHL ice hockey team in Richmond, Virginia. The team, owned by Allan B. Harvie Jr., the founder of the former ECHL Renegades franchise, began play in October 2006 at the Richmond Coliseum. The team's first head coach was John Brophy... |
72 | 35 | 31 | 6 | 76 | 240 | 239 |
| Reading Royals Reading Royals The Reading Royals are a professional ice hockey team that currently plays in the ECHL. The team participates in the Atlantic Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. The Royals play their home games at the Sovereign Center located in downtown Reading, Pennsylvania... |
72 | 32 | 35 | 5 | 69 | 261 | 303 |
| Northwest Division | GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toledo Storm Toledo Storm The Toledo Storm was a minor league professional ice hockey team in the ECHL from 1991 to 2007. The Storm played their home games at the venerable Toledo Sports Arena along the southern banks of the Maumee River in Toledo, Ohio. The team colors were red and white, similar to the Detroit Red Wings,... (z) |
72 | 47 | 15 | 10 | 104 | 247 | 196 |
| Peoria Rivermen Peoria Rivermen The Peoria Rivermen are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Peoria, Illinois, USA at the Carver Arena.-History:... |
72 | 48 | 17 | 7 | 103 | 241 | 181 |
| Cincinnati Cyclones Cincinnati Cyclones The Cincinnati Cyclones are a professional hockey team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The team is a member of the ECHL. Founded in 1990, the team first played their games in the Cincinnati Gardens and now play at U.S. Bank Arena.... |
72 | 36 | 29 | 7 | 79 | 257 | 236 |
| Lexington Men O' War Lexington Men O' War The Lexington Men O' War were a minor league professional ice hockey team and member of the ECHL. The Men O' War played at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky from 2002-2003. Like Lexington's previous team before them , success on the ice did not bring good attendance figures... |
72 | 34 | 31 | 7 | 75 | 188 | 212 |
| Johnstown Chiefs Johnstown Chiefs The Johnstown Chiefs were a minor league ice hockey team located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania that played in the ECHL. The team was founded in 1988 in the All-American Hockey League, and moved to the East Coast Hockey League when that league was formed... |
72 | 28 | 33 | 11 | 67 | 214 | 243 |
| Wheeling Nailers Wheeling Nailers The Wheeling Nailers are an ECHL ice hockey team based in Wheeling, West Virginia. They are the ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Montreal Canadiens of the NHL and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL.... |
72 | 28 | 41 | 3 | 59 | 193 | 261 |
| Dayton Bombers Dayton Bombers The Dayton Bombers were an ECHL ice hockey team located in Dayton, Ohio. The team most recently was in the North Division of the ECHL's American Conference.... |
72 | 24 | 38 | 10 | 58 | 191 | 247 |
Southern Conference
| Southeast Division | GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Inferno Columbia Inferno The Columbia Inferno are an ECHL team based in Columbia, South Carolina. The team is currently on voluntary suspension awaiting construction of a new arena in suburban Lexington County. They played their home games at the Carolina Coliseum. They planned on playing in a new arena during the... (z) |
72 | 47 | 23 | 2 | 96 | 265 | 202 |
| South Carolina Stingrays South Carolina Stingrays The South Carolina Stingrays are a professional minor league ice hockey team based in North Charleston, South Carolina. The Stingrays play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. They play their home games at the North Charleston Coliseum. The Carolina Ice Palace, also located in... |
72 | 42 | 22 | 8 | 92 | 248 | 225 |
| Pee Dee Pride Pee Dee Pride The Pee Dee Pride was a minor-league hockey organization housed in Florence, South Carolina, where they played from 1997 until 2005. The organization, which is one of the five charter members of the East Coast Hockey League , was originally housed in Knoxville, Tennessee and was known as the... |
72 | 40 | 26 | 6 | 86 | 244 | 213 |
| Florida Everblades Florida Everblades The Florida Everblades are an ECHL ice hockey team playing in the Southeast Division. The team is based in Estero, Florida and plays at Germain Arena . The team has existed since 1998... |
72 | 35 | 23 | 14 | 84 | 239 | 243 |
| Greenville Grrrowl Greenville Grrrowl The Greenville Grrrowl were an ECHL hockey team located in Greenville, South Carolina. They played their home games at the BI-LO Center. In the 2001-02 season, they won the Kelly Cup.... |
72 | 28 | 36 | 8 | 64 | 217 | 262 |
| Augusta Lynx Augusta Lynx The Augusta Lynx were a minor-league professional ice hockey team based in Augusta, Georgia. The Lynx played their home games at the James Brown Arena... |
72 | 27 | 39 | 6 | 60 | 203 | 256 |
| Columbus Cottonmouths Columbus Cottonmouths The Columbus Cottonmouths are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Georgia. The team is nicknamed the Snakes, and play their home games at the Columbus Civic Center.-Central Hockey League : 1996-2001:... |
72 | 25 | 39 | 8 | 58 | 197 | 270 |
| Southwest Division | GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi Sea Wolves Mississippi Sea Wolves The Mississippi Sea Wolves were a professional hockey team based in Biloxi, Mississippi and playing in the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. The Sea Wolves were members of the ECHL.... |
72 | 44 | 24 | 4 | 92 | 250 | 211 |
| Louisiana IceGators | 72 | 40 | 20 | 12 | 92 | 249 | 210 |
| Arkansas RiverBlades Arkansas RiverBlades The Arkansas RiverBlades was a short-lived minor-league ice hockey team located in North Little Rock, Arkansas.The Arkansas RiverBlades was an expansion franchise that entered the East Coast Hockey League for the 1998–99 season... |
72 | 37 | 24 | 11 | 85 | 238 | 236 |
| Jackson Bandits Jackson Bandits The Jackson Bandits were a minor league professional ice hockey team and member of the East Coast Hockey League . The Bandits played at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson, Mississippi between the 1999-2000 and 2002-03 seasons... |
72 | 38 | 26 | 8 | 84 | 210 | 195 |
| Pensacola Ice Pilots Pensacola Ice Pilots The Pensacola Ice Pilots were a minor league ice hockey team located in Pensacola, Florida. The team was previously affiliated with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Islanders , and the Chicago Blackhawks. They have also had a working agreement with the Houston Aeros of the... |
72 | 33 | 30 | 9 | 75 | 228 | 241 |
| Baton Rouge Kingfish Baton Rouge Kingfish The Baton Rouge Kingfish were a minor professional ice hockey team in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as a member of the East Coast Hockey League. The franchise arrived in Baton Rouge in 1996 after relocating from Erie, Pennsylvania, where they had played as the Erie Panthers since 1988 as one of the... |
72 | 20 | 43 | 9 | 49 | 184 | 266 |
Northern Conference
- NE is short for Northeast Division
- NW is short for Northwest Division
Division semifinals
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Division finals
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Conference finals
valign="top" |
Southern Conference
1st round
Division Semifinals
Division finals
Conference finals
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Last four
Kelly Cup finals
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ECHL awards
| Patrick Kelly Cup Kelly Cup The Patrick J. Kelly Cup goes to the play-off champion of the ECHL. The Kelly Cup has been awarded to teams since 1997. Prior to 1997, the playoff winner was awarded the Riley Cup. The current cup is named after Patrick J. Kelly, the league's first commissioner. The cup is loaned to the winning... : |
Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies The Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies were an ECHL hockey team in Atlantic City, New Jersey from 2001 to 2005. The team's venue was the historic Boardwalk Hall, which seats 6,979.... |
| Henry Brabham Cup: | Toledo Storm Toledo Storm The Toledo Storm was a minor league professional ice hockey team in the ECHL from 1991 to 2007. The Storm played their home games at the venerable Toledo Sports Arena along the southern banks of the Maumee River in Toledo, Ohio. The team colors were red and white, similar to the Detroit Red Wings,... |
| Gingher Memorial Trophy: | Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies |
| Bruce Taylor Trophy: | Columbia Inferno Columbia Inferno The Columbia Inferno are an ECHL team based in Columbia, South Carolina. The team is currently on voluntary suspension awaiting construction of a new arena in suburban Lexington County. They played their home games at the Carolina Coliseum. They planned on playing in a new arena during the... |
| John Brophy Award: | Claude Noel Claude Noel Claude Noël is a former Canadian ice hockey player and the head coach of the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League. Prior to joining Winnipeg, he was head coach of the Manitoba Moose of the AHL... (Toledo) |
| CCM TACKS Most Valuable Player: | Bud Smith Bud Smith Robert Allan "Bud" Smith is a retired American baseball player. Smith was active at the Major League level in 2001 and 2002, playing for the St. Louis Cardinals.- No-hitter and Major League career :... (Arkansas Arkansas RiverBlades The Arkansas RiverBlades was a short-lived minor-league ice hockey team located in North Little Rock, Arkansas.The Arkansas RiverBlades was an expansion franchise that entered the East Coast Hockey League for the 1998–99 season... ) |
| Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player: | Kevin Colley Kevin Colley Kevin Colley is a retired American ice hockey right winger who played for the New York Islanders of the NHL, and currently is the head coach of the Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL. Colley was signed as a free agent by the Islanders on June 11, 2004... (Atlantic City) |
| Reebok Hockey Goaltender of the Year: | Alfie Michaud Alfie Michaud Alfie Michaud is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played briefly in the National Hockey League with the Vancouver Canucks... (Peoria Peoria Rivermen (ECHL) The Peoria Rivermen were an ice hockey team in the ECHL. They played in Peoria, Illinois, USA at the Carver Arena.The Peoria Rivermen were an ice hockey team in the ECHL. They played in Peoria, Illinois, USA at the Carver Arena.... ) |
| CCM Tacks Rookie of the Year: | Jason Jaffray Jason Jaffray Jason Jaffray is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who currently plays for the Winnipeg Jets organization of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:... (Roanoke Roanoke Express The Roanoke Express were a team in the ECHL from 1993 until 2004. Home games were played at the Roanoke Civic Center in Roanoke, Virginia.-History:... ) |
| Defenseman of the Year: | Jim Baxter Jim Baxter James Curran Baxter was a left-footed Scottish footballer who played as a midfielder. He is regarded by some as the country's greatest ever footballer... (Mississippi Mississippi Sea Wolves The Mississippi Sea Wolves were a professional hockey team based in Biloxi, Mississippi and playing in the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. The Sea Wolves were members of the ECHL.... ) |
| Leading Scorer: | Bud Smith (Arkansas) |
| Reebok Hockey Plus Performer Award: | Dennis Vial Dennis Vial Dennis Vial is a retired professional hockey player who played in NHL with the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, and Ottawa Senators... (Columbia) Mike Glumac Mike Glumac Mike Glumac is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for Adler Mannheim in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga .-Playing career:... (Pee Dee) |
| Sportsmanship Award: | Rejean Stringer Rejean Stringer Rejean Stringer is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played most of his career in the ECHL.-Early life and education:... (Columbia) |
See also
- ECHL All-Star GameECHL All-Star GameThe ECHL All-Star Game is an exhibition ice hockey game that traditionally marks the midway point of the ECHL's regular season, with many of the league's star players playing against each other. The starting lineup for the two teams, including the starting goaltender, is voted on by the coaches,...
- Kelly CupKelly CupThe Patrick J. Kelly Cup goes to the play-off champion of the ECHL. The Kelly Cup has been awarded to teams since 1997. Prior to 1997, the playoff winner was awarded the Riley Cup. The current cup is named after Patrick J. Kelly, the league's first commissioner. The cup is loaned to the winning...