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-3 series in the qualifying round. The four winners, in addition to the other twelve teams that qualified, played best-of-5 series for conference quarterfinals. The remaining 8 teams played best-of-7 series for conference semifinals and conference finals. The conference champions played a best-of-7 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.
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. 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 . 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. However, this record was eclipsed during the 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs .
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. Division champions were automatically ranked 1-3.
Hamilton Bulldogs - Canadian Division and Eastern Conference regular season champions; Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy winners, 110 points
Providence Bruins - North Division champions, 104 points
Binghamton Senators - East Division champions, 97 points
Manchester Monarchs - 97 points
Bridgeport Sound Tigers - 94 points
Worcester IceCats - 88 points
Hartford Wolf Pack - 86 points
Portland Pirates - 85 points
Manitoba Moose - 84 points
Springfield Falcons - 76 points
Grand Rapids Griffins - Central Division and Western Conference regular season champions, 106 points
Houston Aeros - West Division champions, 104 points
Norfolk Admirals - South Division champions, 91 points
Chicago Wolves - 98 points
Hershey Bears - 89 points
San Antonio Rampage - 87 points
Milwaukee Admirals - 85 points
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins - 84 points
Utah Grizzlies - 83 points
Rochester Americans - 81 points
During the first three rounds home ice is determined by seeding number, not position on the bracket. In the Finals the team with the better regular season record has home ice.
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.
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.
(7) Hartford Wolf Pack vs. (10) Springfield Falcons [ edit | edit source]
April 9
Hartford Wolf Pack
1 - 3
Springfield Falcons
XL Center
April 11
Hartford Wolf Pack
2 - 3
Springfield Falcons
XL Center
Springfield won series 2 – 0
(8) Portland Pirates vs. (9) Manitoba Moose [ edit | edit source]
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
(7) Milwaukee Admirals vs. (10) Rochester Americans [ edit | edit source]
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 [ edit | edit source]
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
(1) Hamilton Bulldogs vs. (10) Springfield Falcons [ edit | edit source]
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
MassMutual Center
April 21
Springfield Falcons
1 - 2
Hamilton Bulldogs
MassMutual Center
Hamilton won series 3 – 1
(2) Providence Bruins vs. (9) Manitoba Moose [ edit | edit source]
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 [ edit | edit source]
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
DCU Center
Binghamton won series 3 – 0
(4) Manchester Monarchs vs. (5) Bridgeport Sound Tigers [ edit | edit source]
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
(1) Grand Rapids Griffins vs. (8) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins [ edit | edit source]
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 [ edit | edit source]
April 16
Houston Aeros
3 - 2
Milwaukee Admirals
Lakewood Church Central Campus
April 18
Houston Aeros
4 - 2
Milwaukee Admirals
Lakewood Church Central Campus
April 19
Milwaukee Admirals
2 - 3
Houston Aeros
Bradley Center
(3) Norfolk Admirals vs. (6) San Antonio Rampage [ edit | edit source]
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
(4) Chicago Wolves vs. (5) Hershey Bears [ edit | edit source]
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
(1) Hamilton Bulldogs vs. (9) Manitoba Moose [ edit | edit source]
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 [ edit | edit source]
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
(1) Grand Rapids Griffins vs. (4) Chicago Wolves [ edit | edit source]
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 [ edit | edit source]
April 26
Houston Aeros
5 - 4
2OT
Norfolk Admirals
Lakewood Church Central Campus
April 27
Houston Aeros
0 - 4
Norfolk Admirals
Lakewood Church Central Campus
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
Lakewood Church Central Campus
(1) Hamilton Bulldogs vs. (3) Binghamton Senators [ edit | edit source]
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
(1) Grand Rapids Griffins vs. (2) Houston Aeros [ edit | edit source]
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
Lakewood Church Central Campus
May 17
Houston Aeros
2 - 1
Grand Rapids Griffins
Lakewood Church Central Campus
May 19
Houston Aeros
4 - 5
2OT
Grand Rapids Griffins
Lakewood Church Central Campus
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
(E1) Hamilton Bulldogs vs. (W2) Houston Aeros [ edit | edit source]
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
Lakewood Church Central Campus
June 6
Houston Aeros
3 - 2
OT
Hamilton Bulldogs
Lakewood Church Central Campus
June 7
Houston Aeros
6 - 4
Hamilton Bulldogs
Lakewood Church Central Campus
June 9
Hamilton Bulldogs
2 - 1
Houston Aeros
Copps Coliseum
June 12
Hamilton Bulldogs
0 - 3
Houston Aeros
Copps Coliseum