The 2003–04 USHL season is the 25th season of the United States Hockey League as an all-junior league. The regular season began on September 26, 2003, and concluded on March 28, 2004, with the regular season champion winning the Anderson Cup. The 2003–04 season was the first for the Danville Wings after transferring from the North American Hockey League and the only season for the St. Louis Heartland Eagles after moving from Topeka, Kansas. At the conclusion of the season, St. Louis voluntarily suspended operations and officially folded a year later.
The Clark Cup playoffs features the top four teams from each division competing for the league title.
Regular season Final standings
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OTL = Overtime losses; SL = Shootout losses; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; PTS = Points; x = clinched playoff berth; y = clinched division title; z = clinched league title
East Division Team GP W L OTL PTS GF GA yChicago Steel603422472190165 xCedar Rapids RoughRiders603423371207188 xDanville Wings602923866171178 xWaterloo Black Hawks603027363174162 Green Bay Gamblers602728559171176 St. Louis Heartland Eagles601737640135229
West Division Team GP W L OTL PTS GF GA zTri-City Storm604312591225138 xSioux City Musketeers603815783192152 xRiver City Lancers603716781202160 xDes Moines Buccaneers602926563202200 Lincoln Stars602729458174191 Sioux Falls Stampede601542333148252
Clark Cup playoffs
Players
Scoring leaders Player Team GP G A Pts +/- PIM1Mike HoweRiver City Lancers56364278+27302Paul StastnyRiver City Lancers56304777+26463Bill ThomasTri-City Storm60313869+43304Matthew FordSioux Falls Stampede60373168-4605Jim McKenzieSioux Falls Stampede59263864+13168Mick LawrenceRiver City Lancers58263864+111277Bryan MarshallDanville Wings60283563+1528Mike EricksonDes Moines Buccaneers58372461+5239Joel HansonWaterloo Black Hawks60174259+38510Danny CharlestonChicago Steel59243458+792
Leading goaltenders Player Team GP MIN W L OTL SO GA GAA SV SV% 1Peter ManninoTri-City Storm38198726705702.11687.908 2Jeff LergRiver City Lancers35196224524722.20800.917 3Eric AarnioTri-City Storm30163817521612.23601.908 4Jimmy SprattSioux City Musketeers34192219653752.34835.918 5Jeff LantzSioux City Musketeers33173719922682.35779.920
Awards Coach of the Year: Wil Nichol Chicago Steel Curt Hammer Award: Topher Scott Chicago Steel Defenseman of the Year: Mike Hodgson Sioux City Musketeers Forward of the Year: Mike Howe River City Lancers General Manager of the Year: Bliss Litter Tri-City Storm Goaltender of the Year: Phil Lamoureux Lincoln Stars Organization of the Year: Tri-City Storm Player of the Year: Mike Howe River City Lancers Rookie of the Year: Matthew Ford Sioux Falls Stampede
References
External links Official website of the United States Hockey League 2003-04 USHL Season (Hockey DB) 2003-04 USHL Season (Elite Prospects)