2003 FNHL Cup Champions

New Jersey Devils

Led By GM: Danh Le

Row 1: Martin Broduer, Kevin Weekes

Row 2: Doug Weight, Patrick Elias, Jere Lehtinen, Alexei Zhitnik, Eric Weinrich

Row 3: Keith Primeau, Fredrick Modin, Radek Dvorak, Martin Skoula, Chris Therein

Row 4: David Legwand, Randy Robitaille, Radim Vrbata, Mark Eaton, Colin White

Row 5: Henrick Sedin, Jay Pandolfo

Not Pictured: Jere Karalahti

The Season of Devils:

How hard can it be to succeed in something when nobody has faith and confidence in you? The New Jersey Devils had a very hard season and nobody understood why. From day 1, New Jersey was led by the all-star GM Mike Scarpa who in fact was voted to the all-star game as the Eastern Coach. Right before that all-star game though Mr. Scarpa left the team because he said he lost his passion and didn't care anymore. The Devils had a hot start and then knowing that this GM did not care about them, they fizzled away. They then went under new management but for only a short time before they found Danh Le. During the point between the reign of Scarpa and Le, the Devils went from very hot to very not and struggled to stay alive in the playoff race. Under Danh Le though, New Jersey rallied and got the number 6 seed into the playoffs. They had a very hard road to follow including a first round match-up with the Pittsburgh Penguins. They defeated Pittsburgh 4-2 and advanced to play Boston. They then defeated Boston 4-1 and went know to the conference finals to play the hot Ottawa Senators. It then did not take New Jersey long to oust the Sens by defeating them 4-1. It was finally FNHL Cup Finals time for New Jersey. Going in at the sixth seed to play a Colorado time that had previously went 12-3 in 3 rounds of playoff play. New Jersey shocked the world by then taking Colorado 4-1. The only loss they had was a 7-2 blowout that probably made everyone think that New Jersey will not last long. New Jersey went 4-1 in their last three playoff series proving to the world they they came to play. They showed that crushing the competition, and no team can even say "we came close to beating the champs."