2003 NLL season

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.

2003 NLL season
LeagueNational Lacrosse League
SportIndoor lacrosse
DurationDecember 27, 2002 – May 3, 2003
Number of games16
Number of teams12
Regular season
Season MVPGary Gait (Colorado Mammoth)
Top scorerJohn Tavares (Buffalo Bandits)
Playoffs
Eastern championsColorado Mammoth
  Eastern runners-upPhiladelphia Wings
Central championsRochester Knighthawks
  Central runners-upBuffalo Bandits
Northern championsToronto Rock
  Northern runners-upCalgary Roughnecks
Champion's Cup
ChampionsToronto Rock
  Runners-upRochester Knighthawks
Finals MVPBob Watson (Toronto)

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

1Rochester Knighthawks – xyz16124.7500.06–26–2214173+4113.3810.81
2Buffalo Bandits – x16124.7500.08–04–4231188+4314.4411.75
3Albany Attack1688.5004.04–44–4198191+712.3811.94
4Columbus Landsharks1688.5004.04–44–4184203−1911.5012.69
East Division
PTeamGPWLPCTGBHomeRoadGFGADiffGF/GPGA/GP

1Colorado Mammoth – xy1697.5620.06–23–5226223+314.1213.94
2Philadelphia Wings1688.5001.06–22–6203209−612.6913.06
3New York Saints16313.1886.02–61–7198239−4112.3814.94
4New Jersey Storm16313.1886.03–50–8187220−3311.6913.75
North Division
PTeamGPWLPCTGBHomeRoadGFGADiffGF/GPGA/GP

1Toronto Rock – xy16115.6880.06–25–3195164+3112.1910.25
2Calgary Roughnecks – x1697.5622.06–23–5209207+213.0612.94
3Vancouver Ravens – x1697.5622.05–34–4208196+1213.0012.25
4Ottawa Rebel16412.2507.03–51–7174214−4010.8813.38

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 Toronto 15
4 Colorado 15 2 Toronto 8
1 Rochester 6
3 Buffalo 13
5 Calgary 9 1 Rochester 16
3 Buffalo 16

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
Award Winner Team
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
1 Bill GreerTracey KeluskyMatt RoikPatrick Merrill
2 Erik MillerSteve TollErik MillerCam Sedgwick
3 Jason ClarkJason ClarkPat CampbellChris Schiller
4 Steve DietrichPat MaddalenaBill GreerTom Montour
5 Dallas EliukBlaine ManningDallas EliukAaron Wilson
6 John TavaresDel HalladayCurtis PalidworAaron Wilson
7 Chris DriscollChris DriscollCurtis PalidworNick Polanco
8 Bill GreerColin DoylePat O'TooleLewis Ratcliff
9 Jim VeltmanTom MarechekJim VeltmanAaron Wilson
10 Gary GaitShawn WilliamsGee NashTravis Gillespie
11 Jeff RatcliffeJeff RatcliffeKyle CoulingBrian Tower
12 Gary GaitDerek MalawskyDwight MaetcheMarc Morley
13 Gary GaitCurt MalawskyGee NashBrian Langtry
14 Tracey KeluskyJohn Grant, Jr.Pat O'TooleBrian Langtry
15 Pat MaddalenaMike AccursiBrian BeiselBrian Lantry
16 Erik MillerPat MaddalenaErik MillerMarc Morley

Monthly awards

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

MonthOverallRookie
Jan Pat Maddalena
John Tavares (tie)		Cam Sedgwick
Feb Chris DriscollAaron Wilson
Mar Gary 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 Rock 8 16,733 133,867
Colorado Mammoth 8 16,488 131,907
Philadelphia Wings 8 14,021 112,168
Calgary Roughnecks 8 11,446 91,567
Rochester Knighthawks 8 8,984 71,870
Vancouver Ravens 8 8,337 66,699
Buffalo Bandits 8 7,002 56,015
New Jersey Storm 8 5,484 43,874
New York Saints 8 4,260 34,079
Ottawa Rebel 8 4,202 33,619
Albany Attack 8 3,689 25,103
Columbus Landsharks 8 3,138 25,103
League 96 8,603 825,871

Playoffs
Home TeamHome GamesAverage AttendanceTotal Attendance[5]
Colorado Mammoth 1 17,129 17,129
Toronto Rock 1 16,733 16,733
Rochester Knighthawks 2 9,943 19,885
Buffalo Bandits 1 6,761 6,761
League 5 12,102 60,508

See also

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. "2003 Season". nllstats.com. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
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