In 52 games, all teams play against each other four times, each team has 26 home and 26 away games throughout the season. The teams in places 1-8. qualify directly for the play-offs, which will be played in the best-of-seven mode . In the 2003/04 season there will be a league relegation for promotion to the extra league. The champions of the 1st league qualify for this and have to contest a best-of-seven series against the bottom of the table in the Extraliga.
HC Hamé Zlín prevailed against HC Slavia Prague with 4-1 and won the first title in the club's history. An outstanding series with Ondřej Veselý , Petr Leška and Jaroslav Balaštík , defender Martin Hamrlík and goalkeeper duo Igor Murín (goal conceded of 2.01; two shutouts ; catch rate: 93.89%) and Martin Altrichter (goal against goal of 0.72; one Shutout; catch quota: 98.5%) were a guarantee for this success.
The outstanding player in the play-downs was the only 24-year-old goalkeeper Jaroslav Suchan , who helped HC Dukla Jihlava to rise with two shutouts, a goal against goal of 0.96 and a catch rate of 97% . This means that Dukla Jihlava is again a member of the extra league , while the HC České Budějovice team has to move into the first division .
