- Two teams, the Philadelphia Flames and the Halifax Giants, leave the LHL to form their own league, the SHL, after accusations that rules regarding playoff seeding were changed just prior to the playoffs.
- The LHL expands west, adding the Dallas Wilderness, Calgary Bulls, and the LA Ocean. The SHL adds the Chicago Metros and Texas Rage.
- After the controversy surrounding the 2002 playoffs, which cause the Flames and Giants to leave the league, the commissioner is forced to step aside. All teams and players are locked out until a new commissioner is introduced and important league issues are resolved.
- The lockout finally ends in late October when Larry Gambleson is introduced as the league's second commissioner and the season begins on October 28.
- Daniel Stevenson comes out of retirement to join the expansion Bulls. He finally scores his 500th career goal on December 13.
- Finland rises as a hockey superpower after winning the 2002 World Championship in December. many teams watch the Finish Hockey League closely in preperation for the draft.
- The Toronto Freezers enjoy another strong season, once again finishing in 1st place.
- Joe Murdock enjoys a record-setting sophomore season, scoring an unbelievable 110 goals.
- Stuart Holley joins the expansion Wilderness in January for one last season.
- At the trade deadline, Danny Stevenson is traded to the Warriors.
- All 6 teams make the playoffs, with the 1st place Freezers and 2nd place Warriors receiving first-round byes.
- In the first round of the playoffs, the Blazers sweep the expansion Ocean, while the Wilderness come out on top against the Bulls.
- In the semifinals, the Wilderness shock everyone, taking a 3-0 series lead over the Warriors before the Warriors miraculously wins the next 4 straight to take the series. In the other semifinal series, the Freezers defeat the Blazers in 4 straight.
- The Freezers take a 3-2 series lead in game 5 of the finals on an overtime goal from Sergei Gulanov.
- The Warriors win a thrilling game 6 on an overtime goal from Danny Stevenson to force game 7.
- Game 7 is a back-and-forth battle until Joe Murdock puts the Freezers ahead with 32 seconds to go in the game. Sergei Gulanov adds an empty-netter and the Freezers claim their first Lego Cup. Game 7 takes place on May 31, nearly two months after the 2002 final.
