Penticton Vees (WHL)
| Penticton Vees | |
|---|---|
| City | Penticton |
| League | Western Hockey League |
| Conference | Western |
| Division | B.C. |
| Founded | 2025 |
| Home arena | South Okanagan Events Centre |
| Colours | Black, blue, and white |
| Owner(s) | Graham Fraser Mark Scheifele Mike Richter Joe Walters Gord Kovacik |
| General manager | Fred Harbinson |
| Head coach | Fred Harbinson |
The Penticton Vees are a Junior ice hockey franchise that will debut in the Western Hockey League (WHL) in the 2025–26 WHL season as an expansion team. The team will play 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 will build its 50-player roster in part through participating in the 2025 WHL Expansion Draft, 2025 WHL Prospects Draft, 2025 WHL U.S. Priority Draft, and 2025 CHL Import Draft.[3] The expansion draft will take place on 7 May 2025, followed by the first round of the Prospects Draft the same day. The Vees were awarded fourth overall pick, as determined by a lottery. The U.S. Priority Draft will take place on 8 May, followed by the second round of the Prospects Draft. The Vees were awarded first pick in the second round.[4]
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.[5] Two scouts are assigned to cover the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL).[6]
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.[7] It opened in 2008 and is owned by the City of Penticton and managed by Oak View Group.[7]
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).[8] 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.[9]
References
- ^ "WHL adds Penticton, looks for ownership in Chilliwack". Sportsnet.ca. Rogers Sports & Media. 24 March 2025. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Vees will pick fourth in WHL draft". Penticton Herald. 10 April 2025. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
- ^ Shire, Taylor. "WHL draft lottery set for Thursday: Here's what you need to know". Regina Leader-Post. Postmedia. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Richardson, Casey (17 June 2025). "Penticton Vees announce their Western Hockey League scouting staff - WHL". castanet.net. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Ewen, Steve (23 March 2025). "WHL adding Penticton Vees next season and Chilliwack team for 2026-27". The Province. Postmedia. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
- ^ "BCHL FAQ". bchl.ca. British Columbia Hockey League. 31 March 2025. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
Sources
- Powrie, Chelsea (24 March 2025). "'New chapter, new legacy': Penticton Vees celebrate moving up to the Western Hockey League - Penticton News". castanet.net. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
- Lypka, Ben (24 March 2025). "Chilliwack receiving WHL franchise for 2026-27 season". The Chilliwack Progress. Black Press Media. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
- Lypka, Ben (25 March 2025). "WHL apologizes for past Chilliwack mistakes, pledges future loyalty". The Chilliwack Progress. Black Press Media. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
- Lypka, Ben (27 March 2025). "Chilliwack mayor on WHL: 'I don't think it's the right move'". The Chilliwack Progress. Black Press Media. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
- Lypka, Ben (28 March 2025). "Chilliwack mayor apologizes for 'disrespect' shown to the WHL". The Chilliwack Progress. Black Press Media. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
- "Kelowna Rockets to pick third, Penticton Vees fourth in 2025 WHL draft". Vernon Matters. Pattison Media. 11 April 2025. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
- "Penticton Vees expand to Western Hockey League". Global News. Corus Entertainment. The Canadian Press. 24 March 2025. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
- Shire, Taylor (7 April 2025). "WHL draft lottery set for Thursday: Here's what you need to know". leaderpost.com. Postmedia. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
- Ewen, Steve (13 February 2025). "Several sources have Penticton Vees leaving BCHL to join WHL as expansion team next season". The Province. Postmedia. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
- "Vees Reveal New Brand Logo". pentictonvees.ca (Press release). Penticton, B.C. 26 August 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
- Richardson, Casey (26 August 2022). "Penticton Vees reveal new logo and team colours - BCHL". castanet.net. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
- Powrie, Chelsea (22 April 2025). "Penticton Vees name new head of scouting ahead of first WHL season". castanet.net. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
- Lockhart, Logan (22 April 2025). "WHL-bound Penticton Vees appoint new director of scouting". Penticton Western News. Black Press Media. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
- Lockhart, Logan (25 April 2025). "Rules, regulations set for Penticton Vees WHL expansion draft". Penticton Western News. Black Press Media. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
- Ewen, Steve (5 May 2025). "Busy Vees: Penticton playing in BCHL semifinals, making WHL expansion draft picks this week". The Province. Postmedia. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
- Richardson, Casey (7 May 2025). "Penticton Vees unveil their 22 players for the 2025 WHL Expansion Draft - WHL". castanet.net. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
- Rocca, Taylor (7 May 2025). "Penticton Vees acquire 22 players in 2025 WHL Expansion Draft proceedings". Western Hockey League. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
- Palmer, Randy (7 May 2025). "Plenty of Saskatchewan players headed west as Penticton Vees WHL expansion draft announced". MooseJawToday.com. Harvard Media. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
- Lockhart, Logan (7 May 2025). "Penticton Vees acquire 22 players in WHL expansion draft". Penticton Western News. Black Press Media. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
- Lockhart, Logan (8 May 2025). "'Super special': Penticton makes history with 1st WHL draft pick". Nelson Star. Black Press Media. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
- Vaski, Corvin (8 May 2025). "Vees head to Alberta for first-ever WHL draft pick". PentictonNow. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
- "Meet Penticton's first-ever top draft pick". Penticton Herald. 8 May 2025. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
- McIntosh, Sean (8 May 2025). "Penticton Vees select Doogan Pederson from Red Deer Rebels in 2025 WHL Expansion Draft". Red Deer Advocate. Black Press Media. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
- "Laurie and Warriors part ways: Joins WHL's Penticton Vees". AM 1150. Vista Radio. 27 May 2025. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
- Duncan, Josh (4 June 2025). "Penticton Vees to open inaugural WHL season in Victoria, debut at home against Kelowna". PentictonNow. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- DeMille, Matthew (5 June 2025). "Vees complete 2025 WHL Expansion Draft with Medicine Hat selection". Western Hockey League. Canadian Hockey League. Retrieved 6 June 2025.