2003 NLL season

Last updated

2003 NLL season
League National Lacrosse League
Sport Indoor lacrosse
DurationDecember 27, 2002 – May 3, 2003
Number of games16
Number of teams12
Regular season
Season MVP Gary Gait (Colorado Mammoth)
Top scorer John Tavares (Buffalo Bandits)
Playoffs
Eastern champions Colorado Mammoth
  Eastern runners-up Philadelphia Wings
Central champions Rochester Knighthawks
  Central runners-up Buffalo Bandits
Northern champions Toronto Rock
  Northern runners-up Calgary Roughnecks
Champion's Cup
Champions Toronto Rock
  Runners-up Rochester Knighthawks
Finals MVP Bob Watson (Toronto)
NLL seasons

The 2003 National Lacrosse League season is the 17th season in the NLL that began on December 27, 2002, and concluded with the championship game on May 3, 2003.

Contents

In 2003, the NLL became the first major men's sports league in North America to feature a woman playing in a regular-season game. Ginny Capicchioni, a stand-out goaltender at Sacred Heart University, was signed by the New Jersey Storm as their third-string goaltender. She dressed for three games, though only played in one. Capicchioni collected one loose ball and made six saves while allowing 7 goals in 11 minutes of play. [1]

Team movement

2003 saw the Montreal Express suspend operations, and also saw the Washington Power move to Colorado, where even they were unprepared for the warm welcome they received in Denver. The franchise had drawn small crowds in Washington as well as in Pittsburgh and Baltimore before that, but averaged more than 16,000 fans per game [2] in 2003, second in the league only to Toronto.

Milestones

Final standings

Regular season

Reference: [4]

Central Division
PTeamGPWLPCTGBHomeRoadGFGADiffGF/GPGA/GP

1 Rochester Knighthawks –xyz16124.7500.06–26–2214173+4113.3810.81
2 Buffalo Bandits –x16124.7500.08–04–4231188+4314.4411.75
3 Albany Attack 1688.5004.04–44–4198191+712.3811.94
4 Columbus Landsharks 1688.5004.04–44–4184203−1911.5012.69
East Division
PTeamGPWLPCTGBHomeRoadGFGADiffGF/GPGA/GP

1 Colorado Mammoth –xy1697.5620.06–23–5226223+314.1213.94
2 Philadelphia Wings 1688.5001.06–22–6203209−612.6913.06
3 New York Saints 16313.1886.02–61–7198239−4112.3814.94
4 New Jersey Storm 16313.1886.03–50–8187220−3311.6913.75
North Division
PTeamGPWLPCTGBHomeRoadGFGADiffGF/GPGA/GP

1 Toronto Rock –xy16115.6880.06–25–3195164+3112.1910.25
2 Calgary Roughnecks –x1697.5622.06–23–5209207+213.0612.94
3 Vancouver Ravens –x1697.5622.05–34–4208196+1213.0012.25
4 Ottawa Rebel 16412.2507.03–51–7174214−4010.8813.38

x: Clinched playoff berth; c: Clinched playoff berth by crossing over to another division; y: Clinched division; z: Clinched best regular season record; GP: Games Played
W: Wins; L: Losses; GB:  Games back; PCT: Win percentage; Home: Record at Home; Road: Record on the Road; GF: Goals scored; GA: Goals allowed
Differential: Difference between goals scored and allowed; GF/GP: Average number of goals scored per game; GA/GP: Average number of goals allowed per game

Playoffs

Quarterfinals Semifinals Championship
4 Colorado 11
6 Vancouver 12 2 Toronto15
4 Colorado152 Toronto8
1 Rochester 6
3 Buffalo 13
5 Calgary 9 1 Rochester16
3 Buffalo16

Semifinals

Colorado 11 @ Toronto 15
Buffalo 13 @ Rochester 16

Championship

Toronto 8 @ Rochester 6

All Star Game

No NLL All-Star game was held in 2003.

Awards

AwardWinnerTeam
MVP Award Gary Gait Colorado
Rookie of the Year Award Brian Langtry Colorado
Coach of the Year Darris Kilgour Buffalo
GM of the Year Award Kurt Silcott Buffalo
Executive of the Year Award Brad Banister Calgary
Defensive Player of the Year Award Jim Moss Albany
Goaltender of the Year Award Pat O'Toole Rochester
Sportsmanship Award Chris Driscoll New York / Toronto
Championship Game MVP Bob Watson Toronto

Weekly awards

The NLL gives out awards weekly for the best overall player, best offensive player, best defensive player, and best rookie.

WeekOverallOffensiveDefensiveRookie
1Bill Greer Tracey Kelusky Matt Roik Patrick Merrill
2Erik Miller Steve Toll Erik MillerCam Sedgwick
3Jason ClarkJason Clark Pat Campbell Chris Schiller
4 Steve Dietrich Pat MaddalenaBill GreerTom Montour
5 Dallas Eliuk Blaine Manning Dallas Eliuk Aaron Wilson
6 John Tavares Del Halladay Curtis Palidwor Aaron Wilson
7 Chris Driscoll Chris Driscoll Curtis Palidwor Nick Polanco
8Bill Greer Colin Doyle Pat O'Toole Lewis Ratcliff
9 Jim Veltman Tom Marechek Jim VeltmanAaron Wilson
10 Gary Gait Shawn Williams Gee Nash Travis Gillespie
11 Jeff Ratcliffe Jeff RatcliffeKyle CoulingBrian Tower
12Gary Gait Derek Malawsky Dwight Maetche Marc Morley
13Gary Gait Curt Malawsky Gee Nash Brian Langtry
14Tracey Kelusky John Grant, Jr. Pat O'TooleBrian Langtry
15Pat Maddalena Mike Accursi Brian BeiselBrian Lantry
16Erik MillerPat MaddalenaErik MillerMarc Morley

Monthly awards

Awards are also given out monthly for the best overall player and best rookie.

MonthOverallRookie
JanPat Maddalena
John Tavares (tie)		Cam Sedgwick
FebChris DriscollAaron Wilson
MarGary GaitBrian Langtry

Statistics leaders

Bold numbers indicate new single-season records. Italics indicate tied single-season records.

StatPlayerTeamNumber
GoalsGary GaitColorado61
AssistsJohn TavaresBuffalo58
PointsJohn TavaresBuffalo107
Penalty MinutesCasey ZaphRochester59
Loose BallsJim VeltmanToronto207
Save PctPat O'TooleRochester78.3

Attendance

Regular Season

Home TeamHome GamesAverage AttendanceTotal Attendance [5]
Toronto Rock816,733133,867
Colorado Mammoth816,488131,907
Philadelphia Wings814,021112,168
Calgary Roughnecks811,44691,567
Rochester Knighthawks88,98471,870
Vancouver Ravens88,33766,699
Buffalo Bandits87,00256,015
New Jersey Storm85,48443,874
New York Saints84,26034,079
Ottawa Rebel84,20233,619
Albany Attack83,68925,103
Columbus Landsharks83,13825,103
League968,603825,871

Playoffs

Home TeamHome GamesAverage AttendanceTotal Attendance [5]
Colorado Mammoth117,12917,129
Toronto Rock116,73316,733
Rochester Knighthawks29,94319,885
Buffalo Bandits16,7616,761
League512,10260,508

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "PLUS: LACROSSE; First Woman Plays In League Game". The New York Times. April 14, 2003. Retrieved February 4, 2007.
  2. ↑ Philly, R.A. (August 11, 2003). "Denver to host 2004 All Star Game". Outsider's Guide to the NLL. Archived from the original on December 21, 2006. Retrieved February 4, 2007.
  3. ↑ "Tavares hits 400 as Bandits top 'Sharks, 19–16". Outsider's Guide to the NLL. February 1, 2003. Archived from the original on August 18, 2007. Retrieved February 4, 2007.
  4. ↑ "National Lacrosse League - 2003 Regular Season - Standings". NLL.com. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  5. 1 2 "2003 Season". nllstats.com. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
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