The Vancouver Giants joined the WHL as its 19th franchise. This precipitated a new standings format, with the league moving from three divisions to four, divided into Eastern and Western Conferences. The Swift Current Broncos moved from the East to the Central division, and the Kootenay Ice movied from the Central to the new B.C. Division—the old West Division was divided into the B.C. and U.S. Divisions.
The top four teams in each division qualified for the playoffs, with the caveat that the 5th place team in the B.C. Division could qualify in place of the 4th place team in the U.S. Division if they had a better record.
Map of WHL, 2001–02 to 2002–03
200km 125miles
Wheat Kings
Pats
Warriors
Raiders
Blades
Broncos
Tigers
Hurricanes
Rebels
Hitmen
Ice
Chiefs
Americans
Rockets
Blazers
Thunderbirds
Winterhawks
Cougars
Giants
East Division
Central Division
BC Division
US Division
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes
Note: GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties ; GA = Goals against; SO = Total shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
Conference quarterfinals
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Brandon vs. Saskatoon
Date
Away
Home
March 23
Brandon 1
2 Saskatoon
OT
March 24
Brandon 2
0 Saskatoon
March 26
Saskatoon 1
3 Brandon
March 27
Saskatoon 2
1 Brandon
2OT
March 31
Brandon 2
3 Saskatoon
OT
April 2
Saskatoon 1
4 Brandon
April 3
Saskatoon 1
2 Brandon
Brandon wins series 4–3
Regina vs. Moose Jaw
Date
Away
Home
March 22
Moose Jaw 3
2 Regina
OT
March 23
Moose Jaw 3
5 Regina
March 26
Regina 2
1 Moose Jaw
March 27
Regina 1
3 Moose Jaw
March 29
Moose Jaw 2
1 Regina
March 31
Regina 2
5 Moose Jaw
Moose Jaw wins series 4–2
Red Deer vs. Lethbridge
Date
Away
Home
March 22
Lethbridge 2
4 Red Deer
March 23
Lethbridge 3
5 Red Deer
March 26
Red Deer 5
2 Lethbridge
March 27
Red Deer 3
2 Lethbridge
Red Deer wins series 4–0
Swift Current vs. Calgary
Date
Away
Home
March 22
Calgary 4
2 Swift Current
March 23
Calgary 2
4 Swift Current
March 26
Swift Current 5
1 Calgary
March 27
Swift Current 1
3 Calgary
March 29
Calgary 4
5 Swift Current
March 31
Swift Current 2
5 Calgary
April 2
Calgary 1
3 Swift Current
Swift Current wins series 4–3
Kamloops vs. Kelowna
Date
Away
Home
March 22
Kelowna 4
1 Kamloops
March 23
Kelowna 3
0 Kamloops
March 27
Kamloops 2
4 Kelowna
March 28
Kamloops 1
3 Kelowna
Kelowna wins series 4–0
Kootenay vs. Prince George
Date
Away
Home
March 22
Prince George 4
1 Kootenay
March 23
Prince George 3
1 Kootenay
March 26
Kootenay 6
0 Prince George
March 27
Kootenay 4
2 Prince George
March 29
Kootenay 5
3 Prince George
April 1
Prince George 6
3 Kootenay
April 2
Prince George 1
5 Kootenay
Kootenay wins series 4–3
Portland vs. Seattle
Date
Away
Home
March 22
Seattle 3
4 Portland
March 23
Seattle 6
2 Portland
March 26
Portland 2
3 Seattle
March 28
Portland 3
2 Seattle
March 29
Seattle 1
0 Portland
March 30
Portland 4
0 Seattle
April 2
Seattle 3
2 Portland
Seattle wins series 4–3
Spokane vs. Tri-City
Date
Away
Home
March 22
Tri-City 1
4 Spokane
March 23
Tri-City 3
7 Spokane
March 27
Spokane 2
1 Tri-City
March 29
Spokane 2
3 Tri-City
OT
March 30
Tri-City 1
Spokane 2
OT
Spokane wins series 4–1
Conference semifinals
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Eastern Conference
Red Deer vs. Moose Jaw
Date
Away
Home
April 5
Moose Jaw 4
0 Red Deer
April 6
Moose Jaw 3
5 Red Deer
April 9
Red Deer 2
3 Moose Jaw
OT
April 10
Red Deer 2
1 Moose Jaw
OT
April 12
Moose Jaw 0
6 Red Deer
April 14
Red Deer 4
2 Moose Jaw
Red Deer wins series 4–2
Swift Current vs. Brandon
Date
Away
Home
April 5
Brandon 2
3 Swift Current
April 6
Brandon 3
2 Swift Current
OT
April 9
Swift Current 1
4 Brandon
April 10
Swift Current 3
4 Brandon
OT
April 12
Brandon 4
3 Swift Current
Brandon wins series 4–1
Western Conference
Kootenay vs Seattle
Date
Away
Home
April 5
Seattle 1
3 Kootenay
April 6
Seattle 1
7 Kootenay
April 9
Kootenay 5
2 Seattle
April 11
Kootenay 5
3 Seattle
Kootenay wins series 4–0
Spokane vs. Kelowna
Date
Away
Home
April 5
Kelowna 2
3 Spokane
April 7
Spokane 3
2 Kelowna
OT
April 8
Spokane 1
2 Kelowna
April 10
Kelowna 8
2 Spokane
April 11
Kelowna 2
1 Spokane
2OT
April 13
Spokane 0
2 Kelowna
Kelowna wins series 4–2
Eastern Conference
Western Conference
Red Deer vs. Brandon
Date
Away
Home
April 19
Brandon 2
1 Red Deer
OT
April 20
Brandon 2
4 Red Deer
April 23
Red Deer 4
5 Brandon
2OT
April 24
Red Deer 2
5 Brandon
April 26
Brandon 0
4 Red Deer
April 28
Red Deer 3
2 Brandon
2OT
April 30
Brandon 2
5 Red Deer
Red Deer wins series 4–3
Kootenay vs. Kelowna
Date
Away
Home
April 19
Kelowna 2
3 Kootenay
April 20
Kelowna 4
5 Kootenay
April 23
Kootenay 1
5 Kelowna
April 24
Kootenay 4
2 Kelowna
April 26
Kelowna 0
3 Kootenay
Kootenay wins series 4–1
Red Deer vs. Kootenay
Date
Away
Home
May 3
Kootenay 2
1 Red Deer
OT
May 4
Kootenay 1
2 Red Deer
May 7
Red Deer 2
3 Kootenay
OT
May 8
Red Deer 3
2 Kootenay
May 11
Kootenay 4
3 Red Deer
May 13
Red Deer 2
3 Kootenay
2OT
Kootenay wins series 4–2
On January 24, the WHL Eastern All-Stars were defeated by the OHL Western All-Stars 7–2 at Red Deer, Alberta before a crowd of 6,259.
On February 6, the WHL Western All-Stars defeated the QMJHL Dilio All-Stars 9–4 at Rimouski, Quebec before a crowd of 4,762.
Four Broncos Memorial Trophy (Player of the Year): Dan Hamhuis , Prince George Cougars
Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy (Scholastic Player of the Year): Tyler Metcalfe , Seattle Thunderbirds
Scholastic Team of the Year: Portland Winterhawks
Bob Clarke Trophy (Top scorer): Nathan Barrett , Lethbridge Hurricanes
Brad Hornung Trophy (Most Sportsmanlike Player): Ian White , Swift Current Broncos
Bill Hunter Trophy (Top Defenseman): Dan Hamhuis , Prince George Cougars
Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year): Braydon Coburn , Portland Winter Hawks
Del Wilson Trophy (Top Goaltender): Cam Ward , Red Deer Rebels
Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy (Coach of the Year): Bob Lowes , Regina Pats
Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy (Executive of the Year): Brad McEwan , Swift Current Broncos
Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy (Best regular season record): Red Deer Rebels
Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy (Top Official): Kevin Acheson
St. Clair Group Trophy (Marketing/Public Relations Award): Greg McConkey, Red Deer Rebels
Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy (Humanitarian of the Year): Brandin Cote , Spokane Chiefs
WHL Plus-Minus Award : Matt Hubbauer , Regina Pats
WHL Playoff Most Valuable Player : Duncan Milroy , Kootenay Ice
source: Western Hockey League press release