Penticton Vees (BCHL)

For other uses, see Penticton Vees.

The Penticton Vees was a junior ice hockey franchise in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) based in Penticton, British Columbia, Canada. As a charter member of the league, the Penticton franchise had been named, at different times, the Junior Vees (1961–1963), the Broncos (1964–1975), the Vees (1975–1979), the Knights (1979–1990), the Panthers (1990–2004) and the Vees (2004–2025). After the establishment of a Western Hockey League franchise called the Penticton Vees in 2025, the BCHL franchise was placed on hiatus and the league announced that it seeking to relocate to a new market.

Penticton Vees
City	Penticton, British Columbia
League	British Columbia Hockey League
Division	Interior
Founded	1961 (1961)
Home arena	South Okanagan Events Centre
Colours	Black, blue, and white
Franchise history
1961–1963	Penticton Junior Vees
1964–1975	Penticton Broncos
1975–1979	Penticton Vees
1979–1990	Penticton Knights
1990–2004	Penticton Panthers
2004–2025	Penticton Vees

History

The Junior Vees were one of the inaugural teams in the Okanagan-Mainline Junior Hockey League (OMJHL), launched in 1961. The league became the British Columbia Junior Hockey League (BCJHL) in 1967.

The Penticton Vees were named for the Veteren, Valiant, and Vidette varieties of peaches grown in the Okanagan Valley.^[1]

The Vees were Mowat Cup champions in 1968, 1973, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985, as well as in 1986, when they were also Centennial Cup champions. After 26 years since their last RBC Cup appearance, the Vees advanced to the championship game in the 2012 RBC Cup in Humboldt, Saskatchewan, defeating the Woodstock Slammers 4–3 on a goal by Joey Benik to win the Canadian National Junior A Championship.^{[citation needed]}

In March 2025, the City of Penticton was awarded an expansion franchise in the Western Hockey League, which also was called the Penticton Vees, and the BCHL franchise was placed on indefinite hiatus pending its relocation to another market.^[2][3]

Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes

Season	GP	W	L	T	OTL	GF	GA	Pts	Finish	Playoffs
1961–62	27	9	18	0	—	93	149	18	3rd, OMJHL	Lost in semifinals, 1–3 (Rockets)
1962–63	31	1	30	0	—	61	300	2	4th, OMJHL	Lost in semifinals, 0–2 (default) (Rockets)
1963–64	Did not participate
1964–65	30	11	15	4	—	104	159	26	3rd, OJHL	Lost in semifinals, 1–4 (Kraft Kings)
1965–66	30	15	14	1	—	145	113	31	3rd, OJHL	Lost in semifinals, 1–4 (Buckaroos)
1966–67	40	33	7	0	—			66	1st, OJHL	Fred Page Cup champions, 4–1 (Buckaroos)
1967–68	40	30	8	2	—	218	123	62	1st	Won finals Won Mowat Cup Won Doyle Cup Lost Abbott Cup
1968–69	40	23	14	3	—	209	157	49	2nd	Lost in finals
1969–70	48	19	23	6	—	188	202	44	5th	Did not qualify
1970–71	60	36	19	5	—	275	203	77	2nd	Did not compete in league playoffs Lost Doyle Cup
1971–72	60	33	20	7	—			73	2nd	Lost in finals
1972–73	62	41	18	3	—	314	232	85	2nd	Won finals Won Mowat Cup Won Doyle Cup Lost Abbott Cup
1973–74	64	38	24	2	—	310	280	78	3rd	Lost in semifinals
1974–75	66	35	29	2	—	379	334	72	2nd	Lost in quarterfinals
1975–76	66	27	36	3	—	302	337	57	6th	Lost in finals
1976–77	68	43	22	3	—	404	307	89	3rd	Lost in finals
1977–78	66	47	17	2	—	492	303	96	2nd	Forfeited finals
1978–79	62	23	37	2	—	263	310	48	10th	Did not qualify
1979–80	60	41	18	1	—	350	240	83	2nd	Won finals Won Mowat Cup Lost Doyle Cup
1980–81	56	35	20	1	—	267	227	71	2nd	Won finals Won Mowat Cup Lost Doyle Cup
1981–82	48	43	5	0	—	364	130	86	1st	Won finals Won Mowat Cup Lost Doyle Cup
1982–83	56	34	22	0	—	355	249	68	5th	Lost in semifinals
1983–84	60	47	13	0	—	448	197	94	1st	Lost in finals
1984–85	52	47	5	0	—	498	193	94	1st	Won finals Won Mowat Cup Won Doyle Cup Won Abbott Cup Lost Centennial Cup
1985–86	52	44	8	0	—	433	195	88	1st	Won finals Won Mowat Cup Won Doyle Cup Won Abbott Cup Won Centennial Cup
1986–87	52	30	19	3	—	284	205	63	5th	Lost in quarterfinals
1987–88	52	26	26	0	—	268	252	52	6th	Lost in semifinals
1988–89	60	16	42	2	—	260	351	34	10th	Did not qualify
1989–90	27	6	21	0	—	107	174	12	10th	Folded in season
1990–91	60	13	44	3	—	245	358	29	10th	Did not qualify
1991–92	60	38	20	2	—	321	277	78	3rd	Lost in quarterfinals
1992–93	60	35	23	2	—	350	282	72	2nd	Lost in semifinals
1993–94	60	40	17	3	—	341	261	83	3rd	Lost in quarterfinals
1994–95	60	42	16	2	—	321	250	86	1st in Interior	Lost in semifinals
1995–96	60	32	26	2	—	269	248	66	2nd in Interior	Lost in quarterfinals
1996–97	60	31	27	2	—	285	236	64	3rd in Interior	Lost in quarterfinals
1997–98	60	45	12	3	—	296	177	93	1st in Interior	Lost in finals
1998–99	60	33	22	—	5	230	197	71	3rd in Interior	Lost in quarterfinals
1999–00	60	42	14	—	4	283	167	88	1st in Interior	Lost in quarterfinals
2000–01	60	48	10	—	2	280	166	98	1st in Interior	Lost in semifinals
2001–02	60	32	21	—	7	222	209	71	2nd in Interior	Lost in semifinals
2002–03	60	20	32	2	6	222	268	48	6th in Interior	Lost in preliminary round
2003–04	60	22	28	1	9	178	237	54	7th of 8, Interior 15th of 17, BCHL	Did not qualify
2004–05	60	25	26	2	7	180	193	59	6th of 8, Interior 11 of 17, BCHL	Lost in quarterfinals
2005–06	60	41	13	2	4	245	137	88	2nd of 8, Interior 4th of 17, BCHL	Lost in finals
2006–07	60	41	14	2	3	231	163	87	1st of 9, Interior 1st of 17, BCHL	Lost in semifinals
2007–08	60	41	15	2	2	235	146	86	1st of 8, Interior 1st of 16, BCHL	Won first round, 4-3 (Vipers) Won semifinals, 4-0 (Warriors) Won finals, 4-0 (Clippers)
2008–09	60	36	17	0	7	220	159	79	4th of 8, Interior 4th of 16, BCHL	Did not qualify
2009–10	60	48	8	0	4	284	143	100	2nd of 9, Interior 2nd of 17, BCHL	Lost semifinals
2010–11	60	38	17	3	2	217	171	81	2nd of 8, Interior 3rd of 16, BCHL	Won first round, 4-0 (Millionaires) Lost second round, 4-1 (Silverbacks)
2011–12	60	54	4	0	2	334	133	110	1st of 8, Interior 1st of 16, BCHL	Won first round, 4-2 (Chiefs) Won semifinals, 4-1 (Centennials) Won finals, 4-0 (Kings) Won Doyle Cup, 4-1 (Bandits) Won Royal Bank Cup, 4-3 (Slammers)
2012–13	56	35	16	0	5	197	137	75	1st of 6, Interior 2nd of 16, BCHL	Won first round, 4-0 (Silverbacks) Won semifinals, 4-1 (Warriors) Lost finals, 4-2 (Eagles)
2013–14	58	36	16	2	4	199	137	78	1st of 6, Interior 3rd of 16, BCHL	Won first round, 4-0 (Centennials) Lost second round, 4-3 (Vipers)
2014–15	58	44	9	3	2	216	115	93	1st of 6, Interior 1st of 16, BCHL	Won first round, (Warriors) Won second round, 4-3 (Vipers) Won final, 4-2 (Clippers) Won Western Canada Cup, 4-1 (Terriers) Lost Royal Bank Cup, 1-0 (Canadians)
2015–16	58	50	7	1	0	263	121	101	1st of 6, Interior 1st of 17, BCHL	Won first round, 4-0 (Vipers) Lost division finals, 4-2 (Warriors)
2016–17	58	41	13	3	1	189	129	86	1st of 6, Interior 3rd of 17, BCHL	Won division semifinals 3–4 (Centennials) Won division finals 4–3 (Vipers) Won league finals, 4–3 (Chiefs)
2017–18	58	40	12	3	3	216	130	86	1st of 7, Interior 1st of 17, BCHL	Won division quarterfinals 4–0 (Express) Lost division semifinals 3–4 (Smoke Eaters)
2018–19	58	37	16	—	5	200	143	79	1st of 7, Interior 3rd of 17, BCHL	Lost first round, 2–4 (Capitals)
2019–20	58	44	12	0	2	225	135	90	1st of 7, Interior 2nd of 17, BCHL	Won first round, 4–1 (Warriors) Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21	20	18	1	0	1	90	23	37	1st of 3, Penticton Pod 1st of 16, BCHL	Covid-19 "pod season"–no playoffs
2021–22	54	43	8	1	2	256	123	89	1st of 9, Interior 1st of 18, BCHL	Won division quarterfinal, 4–1 (Smoke Eaters) Won division semifinal, 4–0 (Spruce Kings) Won division finals, 4–0 (Warriors) Won league finals, 4–0 (Clippers)
2022–23	54	50	3	0	0	304	96	101	1st of 9, Interior 1st of 18, BCHL	Won first round, 4-0 (Smoke Eaters) Won second round, 4-0 (Wild) Won semifinals, 4-1 (Silverbacks) Won finals, 4-0 (Bulldogs)
2023–24	54	38	10	0	3	202	116	82	1st of 8, Interior 2nd of 17, BCHL	Won first round, 4-0 (Spruce Kings) Won second round, 4-1 (Vipers) Won semifinals, 4-3 (Silverbacks) Lost finals, 4-2 (Eagles)
2024–25	54	41	8	5	0	210	136	87	1st of 11, Interior 1st of 21, BCHL	Won conference quarterfinal, 4-0 (Oilers) Won conference semifinal, 4-0 (Bucks) Lost conference finals, 2-4 (Bandits)

Western Canada Cup

Western Canada Cup was the Western Canada Junior A Championship held from 2013 to 2017. The champions from the AJHL, BCHL, MJHL, SJHL, and a host team competed in round-robin tournament. After the round-robin, the first and second place team played for championship, the loser then played a runner-up g game against the winner of a third vs. fourth semifinal game. The champion and runners-up would then qualify to compete for the RBC Cup and the National Junior A Championship.

Year	Round-robin	Record	Standing	Semifinal	Championship game	Runner-up game
2015	W, Spruce Grove Saints 11–3 W, Fort McMurray Oil Barons 6–0 W, Melfort Mustangs 3–1 L, Portage Terriers 2–3	3–1–0	1st of 5	—	W, Portage Terriers 4–3 Champions	—
2017 Host	OTW, Battlefords North Stars 2–1 OTL, Brooks Bandits 1–2 L, Chilliwack Chiefs 2–4 W, Portage Terriers 5–3	1–1–1–1	3rd of 5	W, Battlefords North Stars 4–0	—	W, Chilliwack Chiefs 3–2

National Junior A Championship

The National Junior A Championship, formerly known as the Royal Bank Cup from 1996 to 2018, is the annual championship tournament for Hockey Canada's junior A hockey leagues. Depending on the year, various regional champions, qualifiers, and hosts participate in the championship tournament. The tournament usually consists of opening in a round-robin with the top four teams then advancing to a semifinal were the winners compete a championship game.

Year	Round-robin	Record	Standing	Semifinal	Championship Game
2012	L, Soo Thunderbirds 1–2 OTL, Humboldt Broncos 2–3 W Woodstock Slammers 2–1 W, Portage Terriers 3–1	2–1–1	3rd of 5	W, Soo Thunderbirds 3–0	W, 3-2 Woodstock Slammers National Champions
2015	L, Portage Terriers 2–3 W, Melfort Mustangs 4–0 W Carleton Place Canadians 4–3 W, Soo Thunderbirds 5–2	3–1–0	2nd of 5	L, Carleton Place Canadians 1–2 (2OT)	—
2017	OTL, Brooks Bandits 1–2 OTW, Cobourg Cougars 3–2 W, Trenton Golden Hawks 4–0 L, Terrebonne Cobras 1–3	1–1–1–1	4th of 5	L, Cobourg Cougars 1–3	—

NHL alumni

Forty-three alumni of the junior Penticton team have moved on to play in the National Hockey League (NHL).^{[citation needed]}

In the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, Bradly Nadeau was drafted in the first round by the Carolina Hurricanes (# 30 overall) as the only first-round BCHL player selected and Aydar Suniev was selected #80 by Calgary Flames. 19 2022-23 players have committed to NCAA Hockey teams, including the two NHL draftees.^{[citation needed]}

Penticton Broncos (1964–1975)^[4]

• Bruce Affleck, Tony Currie, Gary Donaldson, Reg Kerr, Dave McLelland, Vic Mercredi, Grant Mulvey, Bob Nicholson

Penticton Vees (1975–1979)^[5]

• Ross Fitzpatrick, Darren Jensen, Kevin Maxwell, Andy Moog, Howard Walker

Penticton Knights (1979–1990)^[6]

• Rick Boh, Jim Camazzola, Ed Cristofoli, Neil Eisenhut, Ray Ferraro, Norm Foster, Brett Hull, Ian Kidd, Scott Levins, Derek Mayer, Joe Murphy, Scott Sharples

Penticton Panthers (1990–2004)^[7]

• Mike Brown, Kyle Cumiskey, Paul Kariya, Duncan Keith, Chuck Kobasew, Rick Lanz, Brendan Morrison, Jason Podollan, Kevin Sawyer, Robbie Tallas, Tanner Glass, Matt Zaba

Penticton Vees (2004–present)

• Zac Dalpe, Ryan Johansen, Beau Bennett, Curtis McKenzie, Mike Reilly, Troy Stecher, Tyson Jost, Dante Fabbro, Hunter Miska, Bradly Nadeau, Owen Sillinger

See also

• List of ice hockey teams in British Columbia
• Penticton Vees (senior)