Penticton Vees (WHL)

Penticton Vees
CityPenticton, British Columbia
LeagueWestern Hockey League
ConferenceWestern
DivisionB.C.
Founded2025 (2025)
Home arenaSouth Okanagan Events Centre
ColoursBlack, navy blue, mountain blue and white
       
OwnersGraham Fraser
Mark Scheifele
Mike Richter
Joe Walters
Gord Kovacik
General managerFred Harbinson
Head coachFred Harbinson
CaptainNolan Stevenson
Websitechl.ca/whl-vees
Current uniform

The Penticton Vees are a Junior ice hockey franchise that debuted in the Western Hockey League (WHL) in the 2025–26 WHL season as an expansion team. The team plays its home games in the South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton as part of the B.C. Division of the Western Conference.

Organization

The franchise is operated by part-owner Graham Fraser, who also is the majority owner of the BCHL Penticton Vees since June 2008. The other ownership partners are Mark Scheifele, Mike Richter, Joe Walters and Gord Kovacik.[1] The team planned to have the same operations staff as the BCHL franchise, including head coach and general manager Fred Harbinson.[2]

The team employs a staff of 11 scouts assigned to specific regions in Western Canada and the United States, including: Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Southern Alberta, Mainland British Columbia, Vancouver Island, Minnesota and California.[3]

Arena

The South Okanagan Events Centre is a 95,000-square-foot multi-purpose facility with 3 ice rinks, 5,000 seats and 27 luxury seats.[4] It opened in 2008 and is owned by the City of Penticton and managed by Oak View Group.[4]

History

The team traces its history to 1961 when the Penticton Jr. Vees were a founding member of the Okanagan-Mainline Junior "A" Hockey League (OMJHL).[5] Before joining the WHL as an expansion team in 2025, the Penticton Vees had been the name of a British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) franchise from 2004 to 2025.[2] With the establishment of the WHL franchise, the BCHL franchise was expected to relocate to another city.[6] The name "Vees" is a reference to the Victory, Valiant, and Vidette varieties of peaches grown in the Okanagan Valley.[7]

WHL Championship history

  • Regular Season Division Titles (1): 2025-26

References

  1. ^ "WHL adds Penticton, looks for ownership in Chilliwack". Sportsnet.ca. Rogers Sports & Media. 24 March 2025. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Penticton Vees hockey team leaving BCHL to join Western Hockey League". CBC News. CBC/Radio-Canada. The Canadian Press. 26 March 2025. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  3. ^ Lockhart, Logan (19 June 2025). "Penticton Vees unveil scouting staff for Western Canada, U.S. regions". Kelowna Capital News. Black Press Media. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  4. ^ a b Tidcombe, Matt (24 March 2025). "WHL awards expansion franchise to Penticton Vees, launches franchise application process for Chilliwack". chl.ca (Press release). Calgary, Alta.: Canadian Hockey League. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
  5. ^ Ewen, Steve (23 March 2025). "WHL adding Penticton Vees next season and Chilliwack team for 2026-27". The Province. Postmedia. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  6. ^ "BCHL FAQ". bchl.ca. British Columbia Hockey League. 31 March 2025. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  7. ^ "Cinderella Had Nothing On Penticton V's Club". Winnipeg Tribune. Winnipeg, Manitoba. 12 February 1955. p. 21. Retrieved 19 September 2025.

Sources

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