The 2002–03 ECHL season was the 15th season of the East Coast Hockey League. The Brabham Cup regular season champions were the Toledo Storm and the Kelly Cup playoff champions were the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies.
League changes The Macon Whoopee relocated to Lexington, Kentucky, as the Lexington Men O' War.
The New Orleans Brass ceased operations due to the arrival of the New Orleans Hornets basketball team. The NBA team moved into the Brass' arena but wanted the Brass to pay for every conversion between the hockey and basketball configuration, an expense the Brass could not afford.
The Mobile Mysticks also suspended operations prior to the season and would relocate to Duluth, Georgia, beginning with the 2003–04 season.
All-Star Game 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.
Regular season
Final standings Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L= Losses; SOL = Shootout losses; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = PointsGreen shade = Clinched playoff spot; Blue shade = Clinched division; (z) = Clinched home-ice advantage
Northern Conference Northeast Division Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies 72 41 19 12 94 268 224 Greensboro Generals 72 42 21 9 93 235 211 Roanoke Express 72 42 24 6 90 265 239 Trenton Titans 72 38 24 10 86 229 207 Charlotte Checkers 72 41 28 3 85 262 234 Richmond Renegades 72 35 31 6 76 240 239 Reading Royals 72 32 35 5 69 261 303 Northwest Division Toledo Storm (z) 72 47 15 10 104 247 196 Peoria Rivermen 72 48 17 7 103 241 181 Cincinnati Cyclones 72 36 29 7 79 257 236 Lexington Men O' War 72 34 31 7 75 188 212 Johnstown Chiefs 72 28 33 11 67 214 243 Wheeling Nailers 72 28 41 3 59 193 261 Dayton Bombers 72 24 38 10 58 191 247
Southern Conference Southeast Division Columbia Inferno (z) 72 47 23 2 96 265 202 South Carolina Stingrays 72 42 22 8 92 248 225 Pee Dee Pride 72 40 26 6 86 244 213 Florida Everblades 72 35 23 14 84 239 243 Greenville Grrrowl 72 28 36 8 64 217 262 Augusta Lynx 72 27 39 6 60 203 256 Columbus Cottonmouths 72 25 39 8 58 197 270 Southwest Division Mississippi Sea Wolves 72 44 24 4 92 250 211 Louisiana IceGators 72 40 20 12 92 249 210 Arkansas RiverBlades 72 37 24 11 85 238 236 Jackson Bandits 72 38 26 8 84 210 195 Pensacola Ice Pilots 72 33 30 9 75 228 241 Baton Rouge Kingfish 72 20 43 9 49 184 266
Kelly Cup playoffs
Northern Conference
Division semifinals Northeast Division Semifinals Atlantic City vs. Trenton Date Away Home April 2 Trenton 3 Atlantic City 4 April 4 Trenton 0 Atlantic City 4 April 7 Atlantic City 7 Trenton 3 Atlantic City wins series 3–0 Northeast Division Semifinals Greensboro vs. Roanoke Date Away Home April 3 Roanoke 2 Greensboro 7 April 4 Roanoke 3 Greensboro 1 April 5 Greensboro 3 Roanoke 2 April 8 Greensboro 5 Roanoke 3 Greensboro wins series 3–1 Northwest Division Semifinals Toledo vs. Lexington Date Away Home April 2 Lexington 1 Toledo 9 April 4 Lexington 0 Toledo 3 April 5 Lexington 1 Toledo 5 Toledo wins series 3–0 Northwest Division Semifinals Peoria vs. Cincinnati Date Away Home April 1 Cincinnati 4 Peoria 3 April 2 Cincinnati 1 Peoria 2 OT April 5 Peoria 0 Cincinnati 1 OT April 6 Peoria 3 Cincinnati 4 2OT Cincinnati wins series 3–1
Division finals Northeast Division Finals Atlantic City vs. Greensboro Date Away Home April 11 Greensboro 2 Atlantic City 3 OT April 12 Greensboro 3 Atlantic City 2 OT April 16 Atlantic City 6 Greensboro 3 April 18 Atlantic City 3 Greensboro 2 Atlantic City wins series 3–1 Northwest Division Finals Toledo vs. Cincinnati Date Away Home April 11 Cincinnati 2 Toledo 1 April 12 Cincinnati 4 Toledo 2 April 15 Toledo 1 Cincinnati 0 April 16 Toledo 1 Cincinnati 4 Cincinnati wins series 3–1
Conference finals Northern Conference Finals Atlantic City vs. Cincinnati Date Away Home April 23 Cincinnati 4 Atlantic City 5 April 25 Cincinnati 0 Atlantic City 5 April 26 Atlantic City 3 Cincinnati 1 April 28 Atlantic City 1 Cincinnati 3 April 29 Atlantic City 3 Cincinnati 6 May 2 Cincinnati 4 Atlantic City 3 May 3 Cincinnati 2 Atlantic City 3 Atlantic City wins series 4–3 and Gingher Memorial Trophy
Southern Conference
1st round Southeast Division Wildcard Florida vs. Greenville Date Away Home April 1 Greenville 3 Florida 2 Greenville wins series 1–0 Southwest Division Wildcard Jackson vs. Pensacola Date Away Home April 1 Pensacola 3 Jackson 2 OT Pensacola wins series 1–0
Division Semifinals Southeast Division Semifinals Columbia vs. Greenville Date Away Home April 2 Greenville 2 Columbia 6 April 4 Greenville 4 Columbia 6 April 7 Columbia 6 Greenville 4 Columbia wins series 3–0 Southeast Division Semifinals South Carolina vs. Pee Dee Date Away Home April 2 Pee Dee 3 South Carolina 0 April 4 Pee Dee 1 South Carolina 7 April 5 South Carolina 3 Pee Dee 4 April 7 South Carolina 3 Pee Dee 4 OT Pee Dee wins series 3–1 Southwest Division Semifinals Mississippi vs. Pensacola Date Away Home April 2 Pensacola 1 Mississippi 5 April 4 Pensacola 1 Mississippi 5 April 5 Mississippi 5 Pensacola 1 Mississippi wins series 3–0 Southwest Division Semifinals Louisiana vs. Arkansas Date Away Home April 2 Arkansas 0 Louisiana 2 April 3 Arkansas 1 Louisiana 2 April 5 Louisiana 3 Arkansas 1 Louisiana wins series 3–0
Division finals Southeast Division Finals Columbia vs. Pee Dee Date Away Home April 11 Pee Dee 2 Columbia 5 April 12 Pee Dee 1 Columbia 2 April 16 Columbia 5 Pee Dee 1 Columbia wins series 3–0 Southwest Division Finals Mississippi vs. Louisiana Date Away Home April 9 Louisiana 2 Mississippi 5 April 12 Mississippi 4 Louisiana 0 April 14 Louisiana 2 Mississippi 3 Mississippi wins series 3–0
Conference finals Southern Conference Finals Columbia vs. Mississippi Date Away Home April 23 Mississippi 2 Columbia 5 April 25 Mississippi 2 Columbia 3 OT April 27 Columbia 4 Mississippi 3 April 28 Columbia 1 Mississippi 3 April 30 Columbia 1 Mississippi 2 OT May 2 Mississippi 2 Columbia 4 Columbia wins series 4–2 and Bruce Taylor Trophy
Kelly Cup finals Columbia vs. Atlantic City Date Away Home May 7 Atlantic City 1 Columbia 0 May 9 Atlantic City 3 Columbia 0 May 10 Columbia 5 Atlantic City 3 May 12 Columbia 1 Atlantic City 3 May 14 Columbia 1 Atlantic City 3 Atlantic City wins series 4–1 and Kelly Cup
ECHL awards
Patrick Kelly Cup: Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies Henry Brabham Cup: Toledo Storm Gingher Memorial Trophy: Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies Bruce Taylor Trophy: Columbia Inferno John Brophy Award: Claude Noel (Toledo) CCM TACKS Most Valuable Player: Bud Smith (Arkansas) Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player: Kevin Colley (Atlantic City) Reebok Hockey Goaltender of the Year: Alfie Michaud (Peoria) CCM Tacks Rookie of the Year: Jason Jaffray (Roanoke) Defenseman of the Year: Jim Baxter (Mississippi) Leading Scorer: Bud Smith (Arkansas) Reebok Hockey Plus Performer Award: Dennis Vial (Columbia) Mike Glumac (Pee Dee) Sportsmanship Award: Rejean Stringer (Columbia)
See also List of ECHL seasons 2002 in sports 2003 in sports
References
External links ECHL website