2003 Calder Cup playoffs
Tournament details
DatesApril 9–June 12, 2003
Teams16
Final positions
ChampionsHouston Aeros
Runner-upHamilton Bulldogs

The 2003 Calder Cup playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 9, 2003. Twenty teams, the top ten from each conference, qualified for the playoffs. The seventh-, eighth-, ninth-, and tenth-placed teams in each conference played best-of-three series in the qualifying round. The four winners, in addition to the other twelve teams that qualified, played best-of-five series for conference quarterfinals. The remaining 8 teams played best-of-seven series for conference semifinals and conference finals.[1] The conference champions played a best-of-seven series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on June 12, 2003 with the Houston Aeros defeating the Hamilton Bulldogs four games to three to win the first Calder Cup in team history.[2]

Houston's Johan Holmqvist won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as AHL playoff MVP and also set a record for most minutes played by a goaltender in a single playoff with 1498.[3][4] Jarret Stoll of the Hamilton Bulldogs set an AHL playoff record for the fastest goal from the start of a period by scoring 4 seconds into the 3rd period on May 22, 2003 against Binghamton.[4] Hamilton's Michael Ryder ended the longest game in AHL history when he scored at 14:56 of the fourth overtime in Game 2 of the Calder Cup Final.[5] However, this record was eclipsed during the 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs.[6]

Playoff seeds

After the 2002–03 AHL regular season, 20 teams qualified for the playoffs. The top ten teams from each conference qualified for the playoffs. The Hamilton Bulldogs were the Eastern Conference regular season champions as well as the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy winners with the best overall regular season record. The Grand Rapids Griffins were the Western Conference regular season champions.[7] Division champions were automatically ranked 1-3.

Eastern Conference

  1. Hamilton Bulldogs – Canadian Division and Eastern Conference regular season champions; Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy winners, 110 points
  2. Providence Bruins – North Division champions, 104 points
  3. Binghamton Senators – East Division champions, 97 points
  4. Manchester Monarchs – 97 points
  5. Bridgeport Sound Tigers – 94 points
  6. Worcester IceCats – 88 points
  7. Hartford Wolf Pack – 86 points
  8. Portland Pirates – 85 points
  9. Manitoba Moose – 84 points
  10. Springfield Falcons – 76 points

Western Conference

  1. Grand Rapids Griffins – Central Division and Western Conference regular season champions, 106 points
  2. Houston Aeros – West Division champions, 104 points
  3. Norfolk Admirals – South Division champions, 91 points
  4. Chicago Wolves – 98 points
  5. Hershey Bears – 89 points
  6. San Antonio Rampage – 87 points
  7. Milwaukee Admirals – 85 points
  8. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins – 84 points
  9. Utah Grizzlies – 83 points
  10. Rochester Americans – 81 points

Bracket

The top 6 teams in each conference receive byes to the Conference Quarterfinals. In each round, the highest remaining seed in each conference is matched against the lowest remaining seed. In the qualification round, all games are played at the arena of the higher seed. In each round the higher seed receives home ice advantage, meaning they receive the "extra" game on home-ice if the series reaches the maximum number of games. There is no set series format for each series after the Qualification Round due to arena scheduling conflicts and travel considerations.[8]

Conference Qualifiers

Note 1: All times are in Eastern Time (UTC−4).
Note 2: Game times in italics signify games to be played only if necessary.
Note 3: Home team is listed first.

Eastern Conference

(7) Hartford Wolf Pack vs. (10) Springfield Falcons

April 9 Hartford Wolf Pack 1 – 3 Springfield Falcons Hartford Civic Center
April 11 Hartford Wolf Pack 2 – 3 Springfield Falcons Hartford Civic Center
Springfield won series 2 – 0

(8) Portland Pirates vs. (9) Manitoba Moose

April 10 Portland Pirates 1 – 4 Manitoba Moose Cumberland County Civic Center
April 11 Portland Pirates 4 – 2 Manitoba Moose Cumberland County Civic Center
April 13 Portland Pirates 3 – 6 Manitoba Moose Cumberland County Civic Center
Manitoba won series 2 – 1

Western Conference

(7) Milwaukee Admirals vs. (10) Rochester Americans

April 10 Milwaukee Admirals 4 – 3 OT Rochester Americans Bradley Center
April 12 Milwaukee Admirals 1 – 6 Rochester Americans Bradley Center
April 13 Milwaukee Admirals 6 – 1 Rochester Americans Bradley Center
Milwaukee won series 2 – 1

(8) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. (9) Utah Grizzlies

April 10 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 5 – 2 Utah Grizzlies Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza
April 12 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 2 – 1 Utah Grizzlies Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton won series 2 – 0

Conference Quarterfinals

Eastern Conference

(1) Hamilton Bulldogs vs. (10) Springfield Falcons

April 15 Hamilton Bulldogs 4 – 0 Springfield Falcons Copps Coliseum
April 17 Hamilton Bulldogs 7 – 6 OT Springfield Falcons Copps Coliseum
April 18 Springfield Falcons 3 – 0 Hamilton Bulldogs Springfield Civic Center
April 21 Springfield Falcons 1 – 2 Hamilton Bulldogs Springfield Civic Center
Hamilton won series 3 – 1

(2) Providence Bruins vs. (9) Manitoba Moose

April 16 Providence Bruins 1 – 2 2OT Manitoba Moose Dunkin' Donuts Center
April 18 Providence Bruins 0 – 1 Manitoba Moose Dunkin' Donuts Center
April 20 Manitoba Moose 0 – 1 Providence Bruins Winnipeg Arena
April 22 Manitoba Moose 3 – 2 Providence Bruins Winnipeg Arena
Manitoba won series 3 – 1

(3) Binghamton Senators vs. (6) Worcester IceCats

April 10 Binghamton Senators 3 – 2 OT Worcester IceCats Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena
April 11 Binghamton Senators 4 – 2 Worcester IceCats Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena
April 18 Worcester IceCats 0 – 1 Binghamton Senators Worcester's Centrum Centre
Binghamton won series 3 – 0

(4) Manchester Monarchs vs. (5) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

April 12 Manchester Monarchs 1 – 2 Bridgeport Sound Tigers Verizon Wireless Arena
April 13 Manchester Monarchs 3 – 6 Bridgeport Sound Tigers Verizon Wireless Arena
April 18 Bridgeport Sound Tigers 6 – 3 Manchester Monarchs Arena at Harbor Yard
Bridgeport won series 3 – 0

Western Conference

(1) Grand Rapids Griffins vs. (8) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

April 16 Grand Rapids Griffins 3 – 1 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Van Andel Arena
April 18 Grand Rapids Griffins 2 – 1 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Van Andel Arena
April 19 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 6 – 2 Grand Rapids Griffins Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza
April 21 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 2 – 3 Grand Rapids Griffins Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza
Grand Rapids won series 3 – 1

(2) Houston Aeros vs. (7) Milwaukee Admirals

April 16 Houston Aeros 3 – 2 Milwaukee Admirals Compaq Center
April 18 Houston Aeros 4 – 2 Milwaukee Admirals Compaq Center
April 19 Milwaukee Admirals 2 – 3 Houston Aeros Bradley Center
Houston won series 3 – 0

(3) Norfolk Admirals vs. (6) San Antonio Rampage

April 10 Norfolk Admirals 4 – 3 OT San Antonio Rampage Norfolk Scope
April 11 Norfolk Admirals 2 – 1 San Antonio Rampage Norfolk Scope
April 13 San Antonio Rampage 1 – 3 Norfolk Admirals AT&T Center
Norfolk won series 3 – 0

(4) Chicago Wolves vs. (5) Hershey Bears

April 13 Chicago Wolves 3 – 2 Hershey Bears Allstate Arena
April 16 Chicago Wolves 3 – 5 Hershey Bears Allstate Arena
April 19 Hershey Bears 3 – 1 Chicago Wolves GIANT Center
April 20 Hershey Bears 0 – 6 Chicago Wolves GIANT Center
April 22 Chicago Wolves 3 – 2 OT Hershey Bears Allstate Arena
Chicago won series 3 – 2

Conference semifinals

Eastern Conference

(1) Hamilton Bulldogs vs. (9) Manitoba Moose

April 27 Hamilton Bulldogs 1 – 2 Manitoba Moose Copps Coliseum
April 29 Hamilton Bulldogs 5 – 2 Manitoba Moose Copps Coliseum
May 2 Manitoba Moose 1 – 2 2OT Hamilton Bulldogs Winnipeg Arena
May 4 Manitoba Moose 2 – 6 Hamilton Bulldogs Winnipeg Arena
May 5 Manitoba Moose 3 – 1 Hamilton Bulldogs Winnipeg Arena
May 8 Hamilton Bulldogs 3 – 4 Manitoba Moose Copps Coliseum
May 11 Hamilton Bulldogs 3 – 2 Manitoba Moose Copps Coliseum
Hamilton won series 4 – 3

(3) Binghamton Senators vs. (5) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

April 26 Binghamton Senators 2 – 1 OT Bridgeport Sound Tigers Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena
April 27 Binghamton Senators 3 – 2 Bridgeport Sound Tigers Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena
April 30 Bridgeport Sound Tigers 5 – 0 Binghamton Senators Arena at Harbor Yard
May 2 Bridgeport Sound Tigers 3 – 2 Binghamton Senators Arena at Harbor Yard
May 3 Binghamton Senators 3 – 0 Bridgeport Sound Tigers Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena
May 5 Bridgeport Sound Tigers 1 – 2 Binghamton Senators Arena at Harbor Yard
Binghamton won series 4 – 2

Western Conference

(1) Grand Rapids Griffins vs. (4) Chicago Wolves

April 28 Grand Rapids Griffins 4 – 3 OT Chicago Wolves Van Andel Arena
April 29 Grand Rapids Griffins 3 – 1 Chicago Wolves Van Andel Arena
May 1 Chicago Wolves 1 – 2 Grand Rapids Griffins Allstate Arena
May 2 Chicago Wolves 0 – 2 Grand Rapids Griffins Allstate Arena
Grand Rapids won series 4 – 0

(2) Houston Aeros vs. (3) Norfolk Admirals

April 26 Houston Aeros 5 – 4 2OT Norfolk Admirals Compaq Center
April 27 Houston Aeros 0 – 4 Norfolk Admirals Compaq Center
April 30 Norfolk Admirals 3 – 2 Houston Aeros Bradley Center
May 2 Norfolk Admirals 2 – 3 Houston Aeros Bradley Center
May 4 Norfolk Admirals 1 – 4 Houston Aeros Bradley Center
May 7 Houston Aeros 3 – 1 Norfolk Admirals Compaq Center
Houston won series 4 – 2

Conference finals

Eastern Conference

(1) Hamilton Bulldogs vs. (3) Binghamton Senators

May 13 Hamilton Bulldogs 5 – 1 Binghamton Senators Copps Coliseum
May 15 Hamilton Bulldogs 2 – 1 Binghamton Senators Copps Coliseum
May 19 Binghamton Senators 6 – 4 Hamilton Bulldogs Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena
May 20 Binghamton Senators 3 – 6 Hamilton Bulldogs Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena
May 22 Hamilton Bulldogs 8 – 3 Binghamton Senators Copps Coliseum
Hamilton won series 4 – 1

Western Conference

(1) Grand Rapids Griffins vs. (2) Houston Aeros

May 12 Grand Rapids Griffins 2 – 3 OT Houston Aeros Van Andel Arena
May 14 Grand Rapids Griffins 3 – 1 Houston Aeros Van Andel Arena
May 16 Houston Aeros 2 – 1 Grand Rapids Griffins Compaq Center
May 17 Houston Aeros 2 – 1 Grand Rapids Griffins Compaq Center
May 19 Houston Aeros 4 – 5 2OT Grand Rapids Griffins Compaq Center
May 21 Grand Rapids Griffins 2 – 1 OT Houston Aeros Van Andel Arena
May 22 Grand Rapids Griffins 1 – 2 Houston Aeros Van Andel Arena
Houston won series 4 – 3

Calder Cup Final

(E1) Hamilton Bulldogs vs. (W2) Houston Aeros

May 28 Hamilton Bulldogs 1 – 2 Houston Aeros Copps Coliseum
May 30 Hamilton Bulldogs 2 – 1 4OT Houston Aeros Copps Coliseum
June 4 Houston Aeros 2 – 4 Hamilton Bulldogs Compaq Center
June 6 Houston Aeros 3 – 2 OT Hamilton Bulldogs Compaq Center
June 7 Houston Aeros 6 – 4 Hamilton Bulldogs Compaq Center
June 9 Hamilton Bulldogs 2 – 1 Houston Aeros Copps Coliseum
June 12 Hamilton Bulldogs 0 – 3 Houston Aeros Copps Coliseum
Houston won series 4 – 3

See also

References

  1. ↑ 2003 Calder Cup Playoffs caldercup.com. Retrieved on April 28, 2008
  2. ↑ Calder Cup champions Archived 2008-05-26 at the Wayback Machine caldercup.com. Retrieved on April 28, 2008
  3. ↑ Jack A. Butterfield Trophy Archived 2008-09-17 at the Wayback Machine AHL Hall of Fame. Retrieved on May 6, 2008
  4. 1 2 Calder Cup record book: Players caldercup.com. Retrieved on May 6, 2008
  5. ↑ Important dates in Hamilton Bulldogs history hamiltonbulldogs.com. Retrieved on May 6, 2008
  6. ↑ Phantoms win longest game in AHL history caldercup.com. Retrieved on May 6, 2008
  7. ↑ 2002-03 AHL Standings HockeyDB. Retrieved on April 28, 2008
  8. ↑ Frequently asked questions Archived 2008-05-09 at the Wayback Machine theahl.com. Retrieved on May 12, 2008.
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