WHL Recap of 2002 Annual Meeting, Including Playing Rule Changes

Vancouver, B.C. – The Western Hockey League today announced various matters approved by the Board of Governors at the 2002 WHL Annual Meeting held in Vancouver June 10-11, 2002.

The 2002-2003 WHL schedule will remain unbalanced to maintain the rivalry games within Divisions and reduce team travel for all clubs. However, the Divisions will reverse the inter-conference play from last season.

Primarily, the B.C. Division will host each of the East Division teams once, but will not travel to the East Division. The U.S. Division will host each Central Division team once but will not travel to the Central Division. The Central Division will host each B.C. Division team twice and will travel to the B.C. Division once. The East Division will host each team in the U.S. Division but will not travel to the U.S. Division.

The Vancouver Giants will host the Hershey Cup All-Star game on Wednesday, November 20, 2002. The WHL Western Conference will play an All-Star team from the Ontario Hockey League Eastern Conference.

Beginning with the 2002-2003 season, the WHL has adopted automatic icing, which results in an immediate stoppage when the puck crosses the goal line. The WHL has also adopted an automatic game misconduct for any player who receives a major penalty for charging or elbowing. Both the new rules have been implemented to reduce the risk of player injuries.

The WHL will use the same playoff format in the 2002-03 season as was used in the 2001-02 season. The top four teams make the playoffs in each Division in the Eastern Conference. In the Western Conference, four teams will make the playoffs in each Division unless the fifth place team in the B.C Division has more regular season points than the fourth place team in the U.S Division. If this occurs, the fifth place team will become a wild card team and will make the playoffs instead of the fourth place team in the U.S Division.

In both Conferences, first round match-ups will be the first place team playing the fourth place team, and the second place team playing the third place team, in each Division, based on regular season standings. Second round match-ups will be first place team playing the fourth place team, and the second place team playing the third place team, in each Conference, based on regular season standings. All series throughout the playoffs will be best of seven.

In both Conferences, the first round match-ups will feature best-of-seven series within each Division. The first place team will play the fourth place team, and the second place team will meet the third place team based on regular season standings.

In both Conferences, the second round match-ups will feature best-of-seven series within the Conference. The four clubs, which win their first round playoff series, will advance to the second round. The first place team will play the fourth place team, and the second place team will meet the third place team based on regular season standings.

In both Conferences, the third round match-up will feature best-of-seven series within the Conference. The two clubs, which win their second round playoff series, will meet with the home ice advantage going to the club with the most regular season points.

In the League Championship, the two Conference Champions will meet in a best-of-seven series with the home ice advantage going to the club with the most regular season points.

The WHL adopted bid guidelines for hosting the 2004 Memorial Cup. The WHL clubs will have the opportunity to bid to host the 2004 Memorial Cup at the Board of Governors meeting in Vancouver, in conjunction with the All-Star game in November.

The WHL Board of Governors also reviewed their future market strategy and it was agreed there would be no further expansion beyond the current 20 teams in the immediate future. The new expansion franchise in Everett begins play with the 2003-04 WHL Season.