2003–04 ECHL season


The 2003–04 ECHL season was the 16th season of the ECHL. This was the first season that the league would be known as only the ECHL instead of East Coast Hockey League after the absorption of the former West Coast Hockey League teams. The Brabham Cup regular season champions were the San Diego Gulls and the Kelly Cup playoff champions were the Idaho Steelheads.

League changes

This season brought a major change in the ECHL as the Board of Governors approved membership applications from the Anchorage Aces, the Bakersfield Condors, the Fresno Falcons, the Idaho Steelheads, the Las Vegas Wranglers, the Long Beach Ice Dogs and the San Diego Gulls from the recently defunct West Coast Hockey League. In a change reflective of the nationwide presence, the East Coast Hockey League changed its name to simply ECHL on May 19, 2003.
During the 2003 off-season, the Richmond Renegades, Arkansas RiverBlades, Jackson Bandits, Baton Rouge Kingfish, and Lexington Men O' War all ceased operations.
In addition to the former WCHL teams, the league also added two reactivated franchises in the Gwinnett Gladiators and Texas Wildcatters.

All-Star Game

The ECHL All-Star Game was held at Carver Arena in Peoria, Illinois, and was hosted by the Peoria Rivermen. The Eastern Conference All-Stars defeated the Western Conference All-Stars 7–6, with Peoria's Randy Rowe named Most Valuable Player.

Regular season

Final standings

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L= Losses; OTL = Overtime or Shootout Losses; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points
Green shade = Clinched playoff spot; Blue shade = Clinched division; = Clinched home-ice advantage

Eastern Conference

Southern Division
Columbia Inferno724420896275217
Roanoke Express723826884219232
Florida Everblades7237251084239221
South Carolina Stingrays723928583205202
Greensboro Generals724030282241240
Charlotte Checkers723132971206230
Florence Pride723033969210254
Greenville Grrrowl721453533177281

Western Conference

Pacific Division
San Diego Gulls 72491310108240177
Las Vegas Wranglers724322793227186
Idaho Steelheads724023989219208
Alaska Aces723828682220210
Bakersfield Condors722538959201236
Fresno Falcons722343652187275
Long Beach Ice Dogs722344551191257

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty Minutes
PlayerTeamGPGAPts
Tim SmithCBA69336295
Steffon WalbyMS59335588
Brian McCulloughFL72404787
Louis DumontMS72335184
Louis GouletAUG72325284
Mark PedersonSD70443781
Sylvai DeschateletsSD72245781
Mark TurnerGBO72285078
Cory NeilsonPEN72195978
Jon CullenAC71294877

Leading goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; Mins = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals allowed; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
PlayerTeamGPMinsWLTGASOSv%GAA
Scott StirlingAC49295431135944.9331.91
Derek GustafsonLA43249828140875.9272.09
Michael GarnettGWT33193621102694.9262.14
Trever KoenigSD53315437781143.9202.17
Mike ValleyPEO3721842087833.9152.28

Kelly Cup playoffs

Bracket

Eastern Conference

1st round

Division Semifinals

Division finals

Conference finals

Western Conference

Division Semifinals

Division finals

Conference finals

Kelly Cup finals

ECHL awards