The 2003–04 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season began on October 3, 2003 and concluded with the 2004 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament's championship game on April 10, 2004 at the Fleet Center in Boston, Massachusetts. This was the 57th season in which an NCAA ice hockey championship was held and is the 110th year overall where an NCAA school fielded a team. The 2003-04 season was the inaugural year for the Atlantic Hockey Association after the discontinuation of Division I ice hockey sponsorship by the MAAC at the conclusion of the previous season.
Season Outlook Pre-season polls
The top teams in the nation as ranked before the start of the season.
The U.S. College Hockey Online poll was voted on by coaches, media, and NHL scouts. The USA Today/American Hockey Magazine poll was voted on by coaches and media. USCHO PollRankTeam1 Minnesota (25)2 Michigan (2)3 Boston College (2)4 New Hampshire (1)5 North Dakota6 Boston University7 Harvard8 Ferris State9 Cornell10 Michigan State11 Colorado College12 Maine13 Denver14 Ohio State15 Minnesota-Duluth USA Today PollRankTeam1 Minnesota (25)2 Michigan (3)3 Boston College (3)4 New Hampshire5 North Dakota (2)6 Harvard7 Boston University8 Cornell (1)9 Ferris State10 Colorado College11 Michigan State12 Denver13 Maine14 Ohio State15 Minnesota-Duluth
Regular season
Season tournaments Tournament Dates Teams Champion Lefty McFadden Invitational October 3–4 4 Denver Ice Breaker Tournament October 10–11 4 Boston College Maverick Stampede October 10–11 4 Maine Black Bear Classic October 17–18 4 Maine College Hockey Showcase November 28–29 4 Dodge Holiday Classic December 20–21 4 Minnesota Badger Showdown December 27–28 4 Ferris State Denver Cup December 27–28 4 Denver Dunkin' Donuts Coffee Pot December 27–28 4 St. Cloud State Florida College Classic December 27–28 4 Cornell Great Lakes Invitational December 27–28 4 Boston College Sheraton/Banknorth Hockey Classic December 27–28 4 Dartmouth Subway Holiday Classic December 27–28 4 North Dakota Rensselaer Holiday Tournament December 28–29 4 Northeastern Beanpot February 2, 9 4 Boston College
Standings
Final regular season polls The top 15 teams ranked before the NCAA tournament.
USA Today PollRankingTeam1 Maine2 North Dakota3 Minnesota4 Boston College5 Minnesota-Duluth6 Ohio State7 Michigan8 Denver9 Miami10 New Hampshire11 Wisconsin12 Michigan State13 Notre Dame14 Colorado College15 Harvard USCHO PollRankingTeam1 Maine2 North Dakota3 Minnesota4 Boston College5 Minnesota-Duluth6 Ohio State7 Michigan8 Miami9 Denver10 New Hampshire11 Wisconsin12 Michigan State13 Notre Dame14 Massachusetts15 Harvard
2004 NCAA tournament
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
Player stats
Scoring leaders The following players led the league in points at the conclusion of the season.
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
Player Class Team GP G A Pts PIM Senior Minnesota-Duluth 45 32 31 63 34 Junior North Dakota 41 27 33 60 40 Junior Minnesota-Duluth 45 19 38 57 34 Sophomore North Dakota 37 23 32 55 24 Junior Niagara 39 25 27 52 24 Sophomore Minnesota 38 26 25 51 72 Junior Alabama-Huntsville 31 19 31 50 46 Senior New Hampshire 41 27 22 49 2 Senior Minnesota 44 24 25 49 52 Senior Miami 41 17 31 48 36 Junior Michigan State 42 19 29 48 38
Leading goaltenders The following goaltenders led the league in goals against average at the end of the regular season while playing at least 33% of their team's total minutes.
GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
Player Class Team GP Min W L OT GA SO SV% GAA Sophomore Maine 22 1363 14 4 3 27 6 .956 1.19 Junior Boston College 38 2280 27 7 4 67 4 .907 1.76 Senior Brown 301820 15 11 4 55 5 .942 1.81 Senior Maine 23 1323 19 4 0 40 5 .923 1.81 Junior Colgate 31 1874 18 9 4 57 3 .927 1.82 Freshman Cornell 32 1929 16 10 6 59 5 .920 1.83 Freshman North Dakota 22 1229 14 4 3 42 2 .908 2.05 Junior Wisconsin 38 2299 19 10 8 80 4 .924 2.09 Freshman Lake Superior State 23 1209 5 10 4 43 3 .933 2.13 Senior Rensselaer 35 2093 21 13 1 75 5 .922 2.15
Awards
NCAA Award RecipientHobey Baker Memorial Award Junior Lessard, Minnesota-DuluthSpencer T. Penrose Award (Coach of the Year) Scott Sandelin, Minnesota-DuluthMost Outstanding Player in NCAA Tournament Adam Berkhoel, DenverAHCA All-American Teams East First Team Position West First TeamYann Danis, Brown GBernd Brückler, WisconsinAndrew Alberts, Boston College DKeith Ballard, MinnesotaThomas Pöck, Massachusetts DRyan Caldwell, DenverSteve Saviano, New Hampshire FBrandon Bochenski, North DakotaLee Stempniak, Dartmouth FJunior Lessard, Minnesota-DuluthTony Voce, Boston College FZach Parise, North Dakota East Second Team Position West Second Team Jimmy Howard, Maine GAl Montoya, MichiganPrestin Ryan, Maine DBeau Geisler, Minnesota-DuluthStephen Wood, Providence DA. J. Thelen, Michigan StatePatrick Eaves, Boston College FDerek Edwardson, MiamiTodd Jackson, Maine FJim Slater, Michigan StateRyan Shannon, Boston College FThomas Vanek, MinnesotaColin Shields, Maine F
Atlantic Hockey Award RecipientPlayer of the Year Tim Olsen, ConnecticutBest Defensive Forward Greg Kealey, Holy CrossBest Defenseman T.J. Kemp, MercyhurstRookie of the Year Pierre-Luc O'Brien, Sacred HeartRegular Season Goaltending Award Jamie Holden, QuinnipiacCoach of the Year Paul Pearl, Holy CrossMost Valuable Player in Tournament Greg Kealey, Holy CrossIndividual Sportsmanship Tim Coskren, Holy CrossRegular Season Scoring Trophy Tim Olsen, ConnecticutAll-Atlantic Hockey Teams First Team Position Second TeamJamie Holden, Quinnipiac GTony Quesada, Holy CrossT. J. Kemp, Mercyhurst DReid Cashman, QuinnipiacEric Nelson, Connecticut DKonn Hawkes, Sacred HeartJeff Dams, Holy Cross FGarrett Larson, Sacred HeartTim Olsen, Connecticut FMike Carter, MercyhurstGuillaume Caron, American International FDavid Wrigley, Mercyhurst Rookie Team Position Scott Tomes, Connecticut GReid Cashman, Quinnipiac DJamie Hunt, Mercyhurst DPierre-Luc O'Brien, Sacred Heart FMatt Scherer, Connecticut FJames Sixsmith, Holy Cross F
CCHA Awards RecipientPlayer of the Year Derek Edwardson, MiamiBest Defensive Forward Dwight Helminen, MichiganBest Defensive Defenseman Doug Andress, Ohio StateBest Offensive Defenseman A. J. Thelen, Michigan StateRookie of the Year T. J. Hensick, MichiganGoaltender of the Year Dominic Vicari, Michigan StateCoach of the Year Enrico Blasi, MiamiTerry Flanagan Memorial Award Aaron Voros, Alaska-FairbanksIlitch Humanitarian Award Neil Komadoski, Notre DamePerani Cup Champion Craig Kowalski, Northern MichiganMost Valuable Player in Tournament Paul Caponigri, Ohio StateAll-CCHA Teams First Team Position Second TeamJordan Sigalet, Bowling Green GAl Montoya, MichiganAndy Greene, Miami DBrett Lebda, Notre DameA. J. Thelen, Michigan State DNathan Oystrick, Northern Michigan DBrandon Rogers, MichiganDerek Edwardson, Miami FAaron Gill, Notre DameT. J. Hensick, Michigan FRob Globke, Notre DameJim Slater, Michigan State FGreg Hogeboom, Miami Rookie Team Position Dominic Vicari, Michigan State GMatt Hunwick, Michigan DA.J. Thelen, Michigan State DMatt Christie, Miami FMarty Guerin, Miami FT.J. Hensick, Michigan F
CHA Award RecipientPlayer of the Year Barret Ehgoetz, Niagara Jared Ross, Alabama-HuntsvilleRookie of the Year Luke Erickson, Bemidji StateCoach of the Year Tom Serratore, Bemidji StateStudent-Athlete of the Year Mike Polidor, Air ForceMost Valuable Player in Tournament Jeff Van Nynatten, NiagaraAll-CHA Teams First Team Position Second TeamJeff Van Nynatten, Niagara GGrady Hunt, Bemidji StateJeremy Schreiber, Alabama-Huntsville DAndrew Lackner, NiagaraBryce Methven, Bemidji State DPeter Jonsson, Bemidji StateJared Ross, Alabama-Huntsville FKris Wiebe, FindlayBarret Ehgoetz, Niagara FJoe Tallari, NiagaraBrenden Cook, Bemidji State FRiley Riddell, Bemidji State Rookie Team Position Will Hooper, Findlay GKenny Macaulay, Findlay DPat Oliveto, Niagara DMike Batovanja, Findlay FLuke Erickson, Bemidji State FNate Higgins, Wayne State F
ECAC Award RecipientPlayer of the Year Yann Danis, BrownRookie of the Year David McKee, Cornell Brian Ihnacak, BrownCoach of the Year Stan Moore, ColgateBest Defensive Forward Jon Smyth, ColgateBest Defensive Defenseman Scott Ford, BrownKen Dryden Award Yann Danis, BrownMost Outstanding Player in Tournament Brendan Bernakevitch, HarvardAll-ECAC Hockey Teams First Team Position Second Team Yann Danis, Brown GNathan Marsters, RensselaerGrant Lewis, Dartmouth DScott Basiuk, RensselaerRyan Glenn, St. Lawrence DRob Brown, ColgateBrady Leisenring, Vermont FJoe Zappala, YaleLee Stempniak, Dartmouth FHugh Jessiman, DartmouthJon Smyth, Colgate FKevin Croxton, Rensselaer Rookie Team Position David McKee, Cornell GGrant Lewis, Dartmouth DMike Campaner, Colgate DBrian Ihnacak, Brown FKyle Rank, St. Lawrence FOren Eizenman, Rensselaer F
Hockey East Award RecipientPlayer of the Year Steve Saviano, New HampshireRookie of the Year Michel Léveillé, MaineBob Kullen Coach of the Year Award Jerry York, Boston CollegeLen Ceglarski Sportsmanship Award Steve Saviano, New HampshireBest Defensive Forward Todd Jackson, MaineBest Defensive Defenseman Andrew Alberts, Boston College Prestin Ryan, MaineThree-Stars Award Keni Gibson, NortheasternWilliam Flynn Tournament Most Valuable Player Jimmy Howard, MaineAll-Hockey East Teams First Team Position Second TeamJimmy Howard, Maine GMatti Kaltiainen, Boston CollegeThomas Pöck, Massachusetts DAndrew Alberts, Boston CollegeStephen Wood, Providence DPrestin Ryan, MaineSteve Saviano, New Hampshire FPatrick Eaves, Boston CollegeRyan Shannon, Boston College FTodd Jackson, MaineTony Voce, Boston College FColin Shields, Maine Rookie Team Position Jim Healey, Merrimack GCleve Kinley, Massachusetts-Lowell DKevin Schaeffer, Boston University DBrett Hemingway, New Hampshire FMichel Léveillé, Maine FColin McDonald, Providence FJason Tejchma, Massachusetts-Lowell F
WCHA Award RecipientPlayer of the Year Junior Lessard, Minnesota-DuluthDefensive Player of the Year Ryan Caldwell, DenverRookie of the Year Brady Murray, North DakotaStudent-Athlete of the Year Connor James, DenverCoach of the Year Scott Sandelin, Minnesota-DuluthMost Valuable Player in Tournament Kellen Briggs, MinnesotaAll-WCHA Teams First Team Position Second TeamBernd Brückler, Wisconsin GIsaac Reichmuth, Minnesota-DuluthKeith Ballard, Minnesota DRyan Caldwell, DenverBeau Geisler, Minnesota-Duluth DMatt Jones, North DakotaJunior Lessard, Minnesota-Duluth FChris Conner, Michigan TechBrandon Bochenski, North Dakota FThomas Vanek, MinnesotaZach Parise, North Dakota FEvan Schwabe, Minnesota-Duluth Third Team Position Rookie TeamAdam Berkhoel, Denver GMatt Zaba, Colorado CollegeMark Stuart, Colorado College DRyan Suter, WisconsinRyan Suter, Wisconsin DMatt Carle, DenverShane Joseph, Minnesota State FBrady Murray, North DakotaBrady Murray, North Dakota FDavid Backes, Minnesota StateGabe Gauthier, Denver FRobbie Earl, Wisconsin
2004 NHL entry draft