ɪn tˈuː θˈaʊzənd θɹˈiː, ðɪ ˈeɪhl ɐdˈɑːptᵻd ɐ nˈuː fˈaɪnəlz fˈɔːɹmæt ðæt ɪnvˈɑːlvd ðə tˈɑːp fˈoːɹ tˈiːmz fɹʌmðə ɹˈɛɡjʊlɚ sˈiːzən.
In 2003, the AIHL adopted a new finals format that involved the top four teams from the regular season.