The Penticton Vees were 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 while seeking to relocate.
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 Veteran, Valiant, and Vidette varieties of peaches grown in the Okanagan Valley.
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.
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.
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 <abbr title="Games Played">GP</abbr title> <abbr title="Wins">W</abbr title> <abbr title="Losses">L</abbr title> <abbr title="Ties">T</abbr title> <abbr title="Overtime Losses">OTL</abbr title> <abbr title="Goals For">GF</abbr title> <abbr title="Goals Against">GA</abbr title> <abbr title="Points">Pts</abbr title> 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 finalsWon Mowat CupWon Doyle CupLost 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 playoffsLost Doyle Cup 1971–72 60 33 20 7 — 73 2nd Lost in finals 1972–73 62 41 18 3 — 314 232 85 2nd Won finalsWon Mowat CupWon Doyle CupLost 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 finalsWon Mowat CupLost Doyle Cup 1980–81 56 35 20 1 — 267 227 71 2nd Won finalsWon Mowat CupLost Doyle Cup 1981–82 48 43 5 0 — 364 130 86 1st Won finalsWon Mowat CupLost 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 finalsWon Mowat CupWon Doyle CupWon Abbott CupLost Centennial Cup 1985–86 52 44 8 0 — 433 195 88 1st Won finalsWon Mowat CupWon Doyle CupWon Abbott CupWon 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, Interior15th of 17, BCHL Did not qualify 2004–05 60 25 26 2 7 180 193 59 6th of 8, Interior11 of 17, BCHL Lost in quarterfinals 2005–06 60 41 13 2 4 245 137 88 2nd of 8, Interior4th of 17, BCHL Lost in finals 2006–07 60 41 14 2 3 231 163 87 1st of 9, Interior1st of 17, BCHL Lost in semifinals 2007–08 60 41 15 2 2 235 146 86 1st of 8, Interior1st 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, Interior4th of 16, BCHL Lost semifinals 2009–10 60 48 8 0 4 284 143 100 2nd of 9, Interior2nd of 17, BCHL Lost semifinals 2010–11 60 38 17 3 2 217 171 81 2nd of 8, Interior3rd 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, Interior1st 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, Interior2nd 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, Interior3rd 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, Interior1st 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, Interior1st 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, Interior3rd 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, Interior1st 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, Interior3rd of 17, BCHL Lost first round, 2–4 (Capitals) 2019–20 58 44 12 0 2 225 135 90 1st of 7, Interior2nd 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 Pod1st of 16, BCHL Covid-19 "pod season"–no playoffs 2021–22 54 43 8 1 2 256 123 89 1st of 9, Interior1st 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, Interior1st 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, Interior2nd 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, Interior1st 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 11–3W, Fort McMurray Oil Barons 6–0W, Melfort Mustangs 3–1L, Portage Terriers 2–3 3–1–0 1st of 5 —W, Portage Terriers 4–3Champions— 2017Host OTW, Battlefords North Stars 2–1OTL, Brooks Bandits 1–2L, Chilliwack Chiefs 2–4W, 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 1–2OTL, Humboldt Broncos 2–3W Woodstock Slammers 2–1W, Portage Terriers 3–1 2–1–1 3rd of 5 W, Soo Thunderbirds 3–0 W, 3-2 Woodstock SlammersNational Champions 2015 L, Portage Terriers 2–3W, Melfort Mustangs 4–0W Carleton Place Canadians 4–3W, Soo Thunderbirds 5–2 3–1–0 2nd of 5 L, Carleton Place Canadians 1–2 (2OT) — 2017 OTL, Brooks Bandits 1–2OTW, Cobourg Cougars 3–2W, Trenton Golden Hawks 4–0L, Terrebonne Cobras 1–3 1–1–1–1 4th of 5 L, Cobourg Cougars 1–3 —
Notable alumni Forty-three alumni of the junior Penticton team have played in the National Hockey League (NHL).
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.
Penticton Broncos (1964–1975) Bruce Affleck, Tony Currie, Gary Donaldson, Reg Kerr, Dave McLelland, Vic Mercredi, Grant Mulvey, Bob Nicholson Penticton Vees (1975–1979) Ross Fitzpatrick, Darren Jensen, Kevin Maxwell, Andy Moog, Howard Walker
Penticton Knights (1979–1990) 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) 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, Mat Robson
See also List of ice hockey teams in British Columbia Penticton Vees (senior)
References
Further reading
External links Penticton Vees official website