The 2002–03 OPJHL season is the tenth season of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League (OPJHL). The thirty-five teams of the North, South, East, and West divisions competed in a 49-game schedule.
Come February, the top eight teams of each division competed for the Frank L. Buckland Trophy, the OPJHL championship. The winner of the Buckland Cup, the Wellington Dukes, went on to win the Dudley Hewitt Cup as Central Canadian Champions. The Dukes were not successful in winning the 2003 Royal Bank Cup.
Changes
- Parry Sound Shamrocks leave the OPJHL.
Final standings
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OTL = Overtime losses; SL = Shootout losses; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; PTS = Points; x = clinched playoff berth; y = clinched division title; z = clinched conference title
2002-03 Frank L. Buckland Trophy Playoffs
Division Quarter-final
- Wellington Dukes defeated Peterborough Bees 4-games-to-none
- Trenton Sting defeated Bowmanville Eagles 4-games-to-1
- Kingston Voyageurs defeated Bancroft Hawks 4-games-to-none
- Lindsay Muskies defeated Cobourg Cougars 4-games-to-3
- Aurora Tigers defeated Bramalea Blues 4-games-to-none
- Newmarket Hurricanes defeated Ajax Axemen 4-games-to-1
- Stouffville Spirit defeated Couchiching Terriers 4-games-to-none
- Collingwood Blues defeated North York Rangers 4-games-to-2
- Milton Merchants defeated Streetsville Derbys 4-games-to-none
- Buffalo Lightning defeated Hamilton Kiltys 4-games-to-2
- Georgetown Raiders defeated Mississauga Chargers 4-games-to-1
- Oakville Blades defeated Burlington Cougars 4-games-to-none
- Wexford Raiders defeated Port Hope Predators 4-games-to-1
- Markham Waxers defeated Thornhill Rattlers 4-games-to-none
- St. Michael's Buzzers defeated Pickering Panthers 4-games-to-none
- Oshawa Legionaires defeated Vaughan Vipers 4-games-to-2
Division Semi-final
- Wexford Raiders defeated Oshawa Legionaires 4-games-to-2
- Markham Waxers defeated St. Michael's Buzzers 4-games-to-2
- Wellington Dukes defeated Lindsay Muskies 4-games-to-1
- Trenton Sting defeated Kingston Voyageurs 4-games-to-2
- Milton Merchants defeated Buffalo Lightning 4-games-to-none
- Georgetown Raiders defeated Oakville Blades 4-games-to-3
- Aurora Tigers defeated Collingwood Blues 4-games-to-1
- Stouffville Spirit defeated Newmarket Hurricanes 4-games-to-3
Division Final
- Georgetown Raiders defeated Milton Merchants 4-games-to-3
- Aurora Tigers defeated Stouffville Spirit 4-games-to-2
- Markham Waxers defeated Wexford Raiders 4-games-to-3
- Wellington Dukes defeated Trenton Sting 4-games-to-3
Semi-final
- Aurora Tigers defeated Georgetown Raiders 4-games-to-1
- Wellington Dukes defeated Markham Waxers 4-games-to-none
Final
- Wellington Dukes defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-2
Dudley Hewitt Cup Championship
Hosted by Fort Frances Borderland Thunder in Fort Frances, Ontario. Wellington Dukes won the event.
Round Robin
- Wellington Dukes defeated Thunder Bay Bulldogs (SIJHL) 7-4
- Wellington Dukes defeated Fort Frances Borderland Thunder (SIJHL) 7-1
- North Bay Skyhawks (NOJHL) defeated Wellington Dukes 2-1
Semi-final
- Wellington Dukes defeated Fort Frances Borderland Thunder (SIJHL) 3-2
Final
- Wellington Dukes defeated North Bay Skyhawks (NOJHL) 4-0
2003 Royal Bank Cup Championship
Hosted by Charlottetown Abbies in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. The Wellington Dukes lost in the semi-final.
Round Robin
- Humboldt Broncos (SJHL) defeated Wellington Dukes 4-1
- Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL) defeated Wellington Dukes 7-1
- Wellington Dukes defeated Charlottetown Abbies (MJAHL) 1-0 OT
- Wellington Dukes defeated Lennoxville Cougars (QJAAAHL) 5-2
Semi-final
- Humboldt Broncos (SJHL) defeated Wellington Dukes 3-2
Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
Players selected in 2003 NHL Entry Draft
- Rd 4 #103 Kevin Jarman - Columbus Blue Jackets (Stouffville Spirit)
- Rd 8 #244 Mike Sullivan - Los Angeles Kings (Stouffville Spirit)
- Rd 9 #270 Kevin Harvey - Calgary Flames (Georgetown Raiders)
- Rd 9 #291 Brian Elliott - Ottawa Senators (Ajax Axemen)
See also
- 2003 Royal Bank Cup
- Dudley Hewitt Cup
- List of OJHL seasons
- Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League
- Superior International Junior Hockey League
- Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League
- 2002 in ice hockey
- 2003 in ice hockey
References
External links
- Official website of the Ontario Junior Hockey League
- Official website of the Canadian Junior Hockey League
