Why betting against Penticton mayors in hockey wagers is a losing proposition
It’s called a friendly political wager. Politicians — usually mayors — love making friendly wagers with their counterparts in neighbouring cities. These bets take various forms and almost always peak during playoff season. It’s no different in junior hockey.
Over the last six years, several high-stakes friendly wagers involved BCHL and WHL teams and rival mayors. Five such instances involved the Penticton Vees.
The overall record for Penticton mayors winning friendly political wagers stands at an impressive 5-1 across the BCHL and WHL. Here is a look at the friendly bets Penticton mayors have struck with rival politicians — and how those wagers played out.
Penticton vs. West Kelowna
In February 2020, the mayors of Penticton and West Kelowna struck a playoff wager ahead of a BCHL first-round series between the Vees and Warriors.
Penticton Mayor John Vassilaki and West Kelowna Mayor Gord Milsom agreed that the losing mayor would attend a city council meeting in the winning mayor’s community while wearing the opposing team’s jersey.
Penticton won the series in five games. However, before the second round could begin, the COVID-19 pandemic halted play. There is no official public record of Milsom attending a Penticton City Council meeting in a Vees jersey before public gatherings were restricted.
Penticton vs. Nanaimo
In 2022, Penticton and Nanaimo met in the Fred Page Cup Finals. Mayor Vassilaki made a wager with Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog.
The terms were that the losing mayor would wear the winning team’s jersey at the winning mayor’s next city council meeting and donate $100 to the winning mayor’s charity of choice.
The Vees swept the Clippers 4-0. Mayor Krog dutifully travelled to Penticton, attended a city council meeting in a Vees jersey, and even brought Mayor Vassilaki a box of Nanaimo bars.
Penticton vs. Alberni Valley
In 2023, Penticton returned to the Fred Page Cup Finals against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. Newly elected Penticton Mayor Julius Bloomfield and Port Alberni Mayor Sharie Minions put another jersey wager on the line.
According to a report from the Vernon Morning Star, the winning city would ship a team jersey to the losing mayor to wear at an upcoming council meeting. Penticton swept the series 4-0, forcing Mayor Minions to wear the Vees crest.
Penticton vs. Salmon Arm
During the 2024 playoffs, Penticton made its third consecutive championship run. Standing in their way in the Interior Conference Finals were the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.
Salmon Arm Mayor Alan Harrison made a wager with Mayor Bloomfield. The Vees edged out the Silverbacks in a hard-fought 4-3 series victory. As a result, Mayor Harrison attended a Salmon Arm City Council meeting wearing a Vees jersey.
Penticton vs. Surrey
In the 2024 Fred Page Cup Finals, Penticton squared off against the Surrey Eagles. Mayor Bloomfield and Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke agreed to a standard jersey wager.
The Eagles defeated the Vees in six games, handing Bloomfield his first loss in a friendly wager. He fulfilled the bet on June 4, 2024, wearing a Surrey Eagles jersey during a Penticton City Council meeting.
Penticton vs. Prince George (WHL)
In their inaugural WHL season, the Penticton Vees made an immediate postseason splash. In the second round, the Vees faced off against the Prince George Cougars.
Mayor Bloomfield and Prince George Mayor Simon Yu agreed to an escalated wager. The losing mayor had to wear the winning team’s jersey and spend time with its mascot. Penticton eliminated Prince George in six games.
When Mayor Yu travelled to Penticton for the 2026 Modular Housing Summit, he paid up by taking the Vees’ mascot, HarVee, out on an official date.
Penticton’s winning record
By now, the pattern is clear. Penticton politicians usually are victorious in their wagers because the Vees have maintained winning standards in both the BCHL and the WHL.
Penticton isn’t completely invincible, as Surrey demonstrated in 2024 and Everett proved in its 2026 WHL Western Conference Finals sweep. But if you’re a rival mayor thinking about making a friendly wager with Penticton’s mayor, consider yourself warned. You had better look good in a Vees jersey — or be prepared to take HarVee out on the town.
Photo credit: Garrett James Photography
