The 2002–03 AHL season was the 67th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hamilton Bulldogs finished first overall in the regular season. The Houston Aeros won their first Calder Cup championship.
Team changes The Quebec Citadelles move to Hamilton, Ontario, merging with the Hamilton Bulldogs, operating with as a joint affiliate for the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens. The dormant Prince Edward Island Senators resume operations as the Binghamton Senators, based in Binghamton, New York, playing in the east division. The Springfield Falcons switch divisions from North to East. The Providence Bruins switch divisions from East to North. The Grand Rapids Griffins switch divisions from West to Central. The San Antonio Rampage join the AHL as an expansion team, based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the west division.
Final standings
indicates team clinched division and a playoff spot indicates team clinched a playoff spot indicates team was eliminated from playoff contention
Eastern Conference Canadian Division y–Hamilton Bulldogs (EDM/MTL) 80 49 19 8 4 110 279 191 x–Manitoba Moose (VAN) 80 37 33 8 2 84 229 228 e–St. John's Maple Leafs (TOR) 80 32 40 6 2 72 236 285 e–Saint John Flames (CGY) 80 32 41 6 1 71 203 223
North Division y–Providence Bruins (BOS) 80 44 20 11 5 104 268 227 x–Manchester Monarchs (LAK) 80 40 23 11 6 97 254 209 x–Worcester IceCats (STL) 80 35 27 15 3 88 235 220 x–Portland Pirates (WSH) 80 33 28 13 6 85 221 195 e–Lowell Lock Monsters (CAR) 80 19 51 7 3 48 175 275
East Division y–Binghamton Senators (OTT) 80 43 26 9 2 97 239 207 x–Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NYI) 80 40 26 11 3 94 219 198 x–Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR) 80 33 27 12 8 86 255 236 x–Springfield Falcons (PHX/TBL) 80 34 38 7 1 76 202 243 e–Albany River Rats (NJD) 80 25 37 11 7 68 197 235
Western Conference Central Division y–Grand Rapids Griffins (DET) 80 48 22 8 2 106 240 177 x–Rochester Americans (BUF) 80 31 30 14 5 81 219 221 e–Cincinnati Mighty Ducks (ANA) 80 26 35 13 6 71 202 242 e–Syracuse Crunch (CBJ) 80 27 41 8 4 66 201 256 e–Cleveland Barons (SJS) 80 22 48 5 5 54 203 286
West Division y–Houston Aeros (MIN) 80 47 23 7 3 104 266 222 x–Chicago Wolves (ATL) 80 43 25 8 4 98 276 237 x–San Antonio Rampage (FLA) 80 36 29 11 4 87 235 226 x–Milwaukee Admirals (NSH) 80 32 27 14 7 85 247 251 x–Utah Grizzlies (DAL) 80 37 34 4 5 83 227 243
South Division y–Norfolk Admirals (CHI) 80 37 26 12 5 91 201 187 x–Hershey Bears (COL) 80 36 27 14 3 89 217 209 x–Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT) 80 36 32 7 5 84 245 248 e–Philadelphia Phantoms (PHI) 80 33 33 6 8 80 198 212
Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes Player Team GP G A Pts PIM Steve Maltais Chicago Wolves 79 30 56 86 86 Jean-Guy Trudel Houston Aeros 79 31 54 85 85 Michel Picard Grand Rapids Griffins 61 41 44 85 99 Mark Mowers Grand Rapids Griffins 78 34 47 81 47 Simon Gamache Chicago Wolves 76 35 42 77 37 Darren Haydar Milwaukee Admirals 75 29 46 75 36 Cory Larose Houston Aeros / Hartford Wolf Pack 82 27 48 75 77 Craig Darby Albany River Rats 76 23 51 74 42 Mark Greig Philadelphia Phantoms 73 30 44 74127 Keith Aucoin Providence Bruins 78 25 49 74 71 complete list
Calder Cup playoffs
All Star Classic The 16th AHL All-Star Game was played on February 3, 2003 at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland, Maine. Team Canada defeated Team PlanetUSA 10–7. In the skills competition held the day before the All-Star Game, Team Canada won 15–13 over Team PlanetUSA.
Trophy and award winners
Team awards Calder CupPlayoff champions: Houston Aeros Richard F. Canning TrophyEastern Conference playoff champions: Hamilton Bulldogs Robert W. Clarke TrophyWestern Conference playoff champions: Houston Aeros Macgregor Kilpatrick TrophyRegular season champions, league: Hamilton Bulldogs Frank Mathers TrophyRegular season champions, South Division: Norfolk Admirals Norman R. "Bud" Poile TrophyRegular season champions, West Division: Houston Aeros Emile Francis TrophyRegular season champions, North Division: Providence Bruins F. G. "Teddy" Oke TrophyRegular season champions, East Division: Binghamton Senators Sam Pollock TrophyRegular season champions, Canadian Division: Hamilton Bulldogs John D. Chick TrophyRegular season champions, Central Division: Grand Rapids Griffins
Individual awards Les Cunningham AwardMost valuable player: Jason Ward - Hamilton Bulldogs John B. Sollenberger TrophyTop point scorer: Steve Maltais - Chicago Wolves Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial AwardRookie of the year: Darren Haydar - Milwaukee Admirals Eddie Shore AwardDefenceman of the year: Curtis Murphy - Houston Aeros Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial AwardBest goaltender: Marc Lamothe - Grand Rapids Griffins Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial AwardLowest goals against average: Marc Lamothe, Joey MacDonald - Grand Rapids Griffins Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial AwardCoach of the year: Claude Julien & Geoff Ward - Hamilton Bulldogs Fred T. Hunt Memorial AwardSportsmanship / Perseverance: Chris Ferraro - Portland Pirates & Eric Healey - Manchester Monarchs Yanick Dupre Memorial AwardCommunity Service Award: Jimmy Roy - Manitoba Moose Jack A. Butterfield TrophyMVP of the playoffs: Johan Holmqvist - Houston Aeros
Other awards James C. Hendy Memorial AwardMost outstanding executive: Jeff Barrett, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Thomas Ebright Memorial AwardCareer contributions: Bill Watters James H. Ellery Memorial Awards Outstanding media coverage: Joe Conklin, Grand Rapids, (newspaper)Dave Ahlers, Portland, (radio)Rogers Sportsnet, (television) Ken McKenzie AwardOutstanding marketing executive: Don Helbig, Cincinnati Mighty Ducks Michael Condon Memorial AwardOutstanding service, on-ice official: Marty Demers
See also List of AHL seasons
References AHL official site AHL Hall of Fame HockeyDB