A routine Thursday during the 2024-25 BCHL season exploded when multiple reports came out that the Penticton Vees are set to leave the league and join the Western Hockey League next season as an expansion franchise. This move is confirmed by multiple sources, including Elite Prospects hockey insider Cam Robinson, who noted that the Vees have paid substantial fees to both the WHL and the Kelowna Rockets, their prospective regional rivals.
The move brings the Vees into the Canadian Hockey League system, which has traditionally served as the main pipeline to the National Hockey League. The 2024 NHL Draft saw 88 players selected directly from CHL teams, including 34 from the WHL. Compare that to six BCHL players being chosen in the draft last year.
The Vees are one of the BCHL’s original teams, starting in the league in 1961. Penticton has had a team in the BCHL every season since, except for 1963-64 when it didn’t participate, and in 1989-90 when the Knights folded after 27 games. The Penticton franchise leads the BCHL in players selected directly in the National Hockey League Draft with 35 and boasts an alumni list that includes Hockey Hall of Fame members Brett Hull, Paul Kariya, and Duncan Keith.
The NCAA decision
A key factor influencing the Vees’ move to the WHL is the NCAA’s decision last fall to allow players with CHL experience to retain eligibility for college hockey. For years, one of the BCHL’s main advantages was that it was a primary pathway for players to NCAA Division I programs, offering players an alternative route to professional hockey. However, with the NCAA’s potential rule change, players may no longer have to choose between Major Junior hockey and the BCHL.
While the departure of a marquee franchise like the Vees may seem like a blow to the BCHL, it could ultimately benefit the league. With Penticton out of the picture, competitive balance might improve. The Vees have won 14 BCHL championships since 1967 and participated in the league’s final series 10 other times. Vernon is the next closest with 22 appearances in the Fred Page Cup final and 12 championship wins.
According to Postmedia’s Steve Ewen, a WHL spokesperson said the league’s board of governors met earlier this week in Las Vegas and “discussed a variety of topics, including many aspects around the WHL’s future plans,” but also maintained that “no final decisions were made.”
For the WHL, adding Penticton strengthens its foothold in British Columbia and creates an instant rivalry with the Rockets – less than an hour’s drive north on Highway 97. The Vees will be a valuable addition to the WHL, bringing a winning culture, a strong fan base, and a top-tier facility in the South Okanagan Events Centre.
Photo credit: Garrett James Photography
