The 2002–03 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season began on October 4, 2002, and concluded with the 2003 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament's championship game on April 12, 2003, at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York. This was the 56th season in which an NCAA ice hockey championship was held and is the 109th year overall where an NCAA school fielded a team. The 2002–03 season was the final year for the MAAC hockey conference when Iona and Fairfield ended their programs at the conclusion of the season.
The NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament expanded to 16 teams for the first time in 2003. As a result, two regional sites were added for the new Northeast and Midwest brackets.
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 (22)2 Denver (13)3 Michigan (3)4 New Hampshire (1)5 Boston University (2)6 Maine7 Michigan State8 Cornell9 Boston College10 Colorado College11 St. Cloud State12 Northern Michigan13 North Dakota14 Harvard15 Ohio State USA Today PollRankTeam1 Minnesota (12)2 Michigan (1)3 Denver (2)4 New Hampshire5 Boston University6 Maine7 Michigan State8 Cornell9 St. Cloud State10 Colorado College11 Northern Michigan12 (tie) Boston College12 (tie) North Dakota14 Harvard15 Ohio State
Regular season
Season tournaments Tournament Dates Teams Champion Lefty McFadden Invitational October 4–5 4 Miami Black Bear Classic October 11–12 4 Maine Ice Breaker Tournament October 11–12 4 Boston University Maverick Stampede October 11–12 4 Denver Xerox College Hockey Showcase October 11–12 4 North Dakota Nye Frontier Classic October 18–19 4 Colorado College College Hockey Showcase November 29–December 1 4 Denver Cup December 27–28 4 Denver Dodge Holiday Classic December 27–28 4 Minnesota Subway Holiday Classic December 27–28 4 North Dakota Florida College Classic December 28–29 4 Maine Great Lakes Invitational December 28–29 4 Boston University Ledyard Bank Classic December 28–29 4 Dartmouth Rensselaer Holiday Tournament December 28–29 4 Merrimack Badger Showdown December 29–30 4 Wisconsin Beanpot February 3, 10 4 Boston University
Standings
Final regular season polls The top 15 teams ranked before the NCAA tournament. USA Today PollRankingTeam1 Cornell2 Colorado College3 New Hampshire4 Minnesota5 Michigan6 Ferris State7 Boston University8 Boston College9 Maine10 Minnesota State Mankato11 Harvard12 North Dakota13 Ohio State14 Minnesota Duluth15 Michigan State USCHO PollRankingTeam1 Cornell2 Colorado College3 New Hampshire4 Minnesota5 Ferris State6 Boston University7 Michigan8 Boston College9 Maine10 Harvard11 Minnesota State Mankato12 North Dakota13 Ohio State14 Minnesota Duluth15 St. Cloud State
2003 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 Junior Colorado College 42 36 46 82 12 Senior Ferris State 42 35 44 79 47 Senior Colorado College 42 21 49 70 15 Junior Minnesota State-Mankato 41 29 36 65 6 Sophomore Minnesota State-Mankato 38 27 36 63 38 Sophomore North Dakota 43 35 27 62 42 Freshman Minnesota 45 31 31 62 60 Freshman North Dakota 39 26 35 61 34 Sophomore Ferris State 42 24 35 59 35 Junior Boston College 36 18 39 57 18
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 Cornell 32 1946 28 3 1 39 9 .940 1.20 Sophomore Maine 21 1179 10 4 5 42 2 .915 2.14 Junior New Hampshire 412499 27 8 6 91 7 .926 2.18 Sophomore Boston College 30 1843 18 9 3 68 1 .903 2.21 Junior Ohio State 36 2140 20 11 5 80 2 .903 2.24 Senior Sacred Heart 29 1769 12 12 5 67 3 .924 2.27 Junior Denver 26 1435 12 6 4 55 3 .908 2.30 Junior Brown 34 2074 15 14 5 80 5 .929 2.31 Freshman Michigan 43 2547 30 10 3 99 4 .911 2.33 Sophomore Ferris State 41 2403 30 10 1 94 4 .925 2.35
Awards
NCAA Award RecipientHobey Baker Memorial Award Peter Sejna, Colorado CollegeSpencer T. Penrose Award (Coach of the Year) Bob Daniels, Ferris StateMost Outstanding Player in NCAA Tournament Thomas Vanek, MinnesotaAHCA All-American Teams East First Team Position West First TeamDavid LeNeveu, Cornell GMike Brown, Ferris StateFreddy Meyer, Boston University DJohn-Michael Liles, Michigan StateDouglas Murray, Cornell DTom Preissing, Colorado CollegeBen Eaves, Boston College FNoah Clarke, Colorado CollegeChris Higgins, Yale FChris Kunitz, Ferris StateDominic Moore, Harvard FPeter Sejna, Colorado College East Second Team Position West Second Team Mike Ayers, New Hampshire GCurtis McElhinney, Colorado CollegeJ. D. Forrest, Boston College DBrad Fast, Michigan StateNoah Welch, Harvard DPaul Martin, MinnesotaStephen Baby, Cornell FShane Joseph, Minnesota State-MankatoLanny Gare, New Hampshire FGrant Stevenson, Minnesota State-MankatoColin Hemingway, New Hampshire FR. J. Umberger, Ohio State
CCHA Awards RecipientPlayer of the Year Chris Kunitz, Ferris StateBest Defensive Forward Jed Ortmeyer, MichiganBest Defensive Defenseman Brad Fast, Michigan StateBest Offensive Defenseman John-Michael Liles, Michigan StateRookie of the Year Jeff Tambellini, MichiganGoaltender of the Year Mike Betz, Ohio StateCoach of the Year Bob Daniels, Ferris StateTerry Flanagan Memorial Award Brian Maloney, Michigan StateIlitch Humanitarian Award Mike Betz, Ohio StatePerani Cup Champion Mike Brown, Ferris StateMost Valuable Player in Tournament Jed Ortmeyer, MichiganAll-CCHA Teams First Team Position Second TeamMike Brown, Ferris State GMike Betz, Ohio StateBrad Fast, Michigan State DSimon Mangos, Ferris StateJohn-Michael Liles, Michigan State DTroy Milam, Ferris StateChris Kunitz, Ferris State FMike Kompon, MiamiJim Slater, Michigan State FJeff Legue, Ferris StateR. J. Umberger, Ohio State FJeff Tambellini, Michigan Rookie Team Position Al Montoya, Michigan GAndy Greene, Michigan DDanny Richmond, Michigan DVince Bellissimo, Western Michigan FDavid Booth, Michigan State FJeff Tambellini, Michigan F
CHA Award RecipientPlayer of the Year Joe Tallari, NiagaraRookie of the Year Scott Munroe, Alabama-HuntsvilleCoach of the Year Doug Ross, Alabama-HuntsvilleStudent-Athlete of the Year Jason Maxwell, FindlayMost Valuable Player in Tournament Marc St. Jean, Wayne StateAll-CHA Teams First Team Position Second TeamGrady Hunt, Bemidji State GScott Munroe, Alabama-HuntsvilleRyan Leasa, Alabama-Huntsville DTyler Butler, Alabama-HuntsvilleBryce Methven, Bemidji State DKeith Stanich, Wayne StateJoe Tallari, Niagara FSteve Cherlebois, Alabama-HuntsvilleMarty Goulet, Bemidji State FAndy Berg, Air ForceJared Ross, Alabama-Huntsville FBarret Ehgoetz, Niagara Rookie Team Position Scott Munroe, Alabama-Huntsville GJeremy Schreiber, Alabama-Huntsville DBrian Hartman, Niagara DDerek MacKay, Wayne State FAndrew Radzak, Findlay FJason Williamson, Niagara F
ECAC Award RecipientPlayer of the Year Chris Higgins, Yale David LeNeveu, CornellRookie of the Year Hugh Jessiman, DartmouthCoach of the Year Mike Schafer, CornellBest Defensive Forward Stephen Bâby, CornellBest Defensive Defenseman Douglas Murray, CornellKen Dryden Award David LeNeveu, CornellMost Outstanding Player in Tournament David LeNeveu, CornellAll-ECAC Hockey Teams First Team Position Second Team David LeNeveu, Cornell GYann Danis, BrownDouglas Murray, Cornell DNoah Welch, HarvardRandy Jones, Clarkson DTrevor Byrne, DartmouthDominic Moore, Harvard FScooter Smith, ColgateTim Pettit, Harvard FStephen Baby, CornellChris Higgins, Yale FRyan Vesce, Cornell Rookie Team Position Kris Mayotte, Union GSean Offers, Dartmouth DJaime Sifers, Vermont DKevin Croxton, Rensselaer FHugh Jessiman, Dartmouth FJohn Zeiler, St. Lawrence F
Hockey East Award RecipientPlayer of the Year Mike Ayers, New Hampshire Ben Eaves, Boston CollegeRookie of the Year Jimmy Howard, MaineBob Kullen Coach of the Year Award Don Cahoon, MassachusettsLen Ceglarski Sportsmanship Award Martin Kariya, MaineBest Defensive Forward Mark Mullen, Boston UniversityBest Defensive Defenseman Cliff Loya, MaineThree-Stars Award Ben Eaves, Boston College Joe Exter, MerrimackWilliam Flynn Tournament Most Valuable Player Sean Fields, Boston UniversityAll-Hockey East Teams First Team Position Second TeamMike Ayers, New Hampshire GJoe Exter, MerrimackFreddy Meyer, Boston University DJ.D. Forest, Boston CollegeFrancis Nault, Maine DThomas Pöck, Massachusetts DStephen Wood, ProvidenceBen Eaves, Boston College FColin Hemingway, New HampshireLanny Gare, New Hampshire FLucas Lawson, MaineMartin Kariya, Maine FEd McGrane, Massachusetts-Lowell Rookie Team Position Jimmy Howard, Maine GJekabs Redlihs, Boston University DBryan Schmidt, Merrimack DChris Collins, Boston College FMike Morris, Northeastern FDavid Van der Gulik, Boston University FStephen Werner, Massachusetts F
MAAC Award RecipientOffensive Player of the Year Brandon Doria, Holy CrossDefensive Player of the Year Wade Winkler, QuinnipiacGoaltender of the Year Brad Roberts, Army Eddy Ferhi, Sacred HeartOffensive Rookie of the Year Tyler McGregor, Holy Cross Scott Reynolds, MercyhurstDefensive Rookie of the Year Brad Roberts, ArmyCoach of the Year Ryan Soderquist, BentleyTournament Most Valuable Player David Wrigley, MercyhurstAll-MAAC Teams First Team Position Second TeamBrad Roberts, Army GSimon St. Pierre, BentleyEddy Ferhi, Sacred Heart GWade Winkler, Quinnipiac DT. J. Kemp, MercyhurstLes Hrapchak, Sacred Heart DJoe Dudek, ArmyBrandon Doria, Holy Cross FBrian Herbert, QuinnipiacMartin Paquet, Sacred Heart FRich Hansen, MercyhurstMatt Craig, Quinnipiac FRae Metz, Fairfield Rookie Team Position Brad Roberts, Army GConrad Martin, Mercyhurst DTim Songin, Canisius DRyan Swanson, Iona DTyler McGregor, Holy Cross FPaul Markarian, Bentley FRyan Mayhew, Bentley FScott Reynolds, Mercyhurst F
WCHA Award RecipientPlayer of the Year Peter Sejna, Colorado CollegeDefensive Player of the Year Joe Cullen, Colorado College Aaron MacKenzie, DenverRookie of the Year Thomas Vanek, MinnesotaStudent-Athlete of the Year Tom Preissing, Colorado CollegeCoach of the Year Troy Jutting, Minnesota State-MankatoMost Valuable Player in Tournament Grant Potulny, MinnesotaAll-WCHA Teams First Team Position Second TeamCurtis McElhinney, Colorado College GWade Dubielewicz, DenverTom Preissing, Colorado College DAaron MacKenzie, DenverPaul Martin, Minnesota DKeith Ballard, MinnesotaPeter Sejna, Colorado College FNoah Clarke, Colorado CollegeShane Joseph, Minnesota State-Mankato FThomas Vanek, MinnesotaGrant Stevenson, Minnesota State-Mankato FBrandon Bochenski, North Dakota Third Team Position Rookie TeamIassc Reichmuth, Minnesota-Duluth GIassc Reichmuth, Minnesota-DuluthAndy Schneider, North Dakota DMark Stuart, Colorado CollegeDavid Hale, North Dakota DChris Harrington, MinnesotaZach Parise, North Dakota FThomas Vanek, MinnesotaKevin Doell, Denver FZach Parise, North DakotaTroy Riddle, Minnesota FBrett Sterling, Colorado College
2003 NHL entry draft