The Penticton BCHL team will not play during the 2025-2026 season. League officials confirmed they could not find a new location for the team in time for the upcoming season. This change comes after Penticton was awarded a Western Hockey League (WHL) expansion franchise earlier this year.
Jesse Adamson, a spokesperson for the BCHL, said the team will pause operations next season while the league looks to move the franchise to a new city. “Our hope is that it’s resolved in time for the 2026-27 season, but that will only happen if we find the right fit,” Adamson said in an email.
With Penticton’s BCHL team on hold, the league now has 20 active teams. Over its 64-year history in the BCHL, the Penticton franchise has been known by several names, including the Knights, Broncos, Panthers, and Vees. The team holds a league record with 14 Fred Page Cup championships.
The future of the Penticton BCHL club became uncertain soon after the city was awarded its WHL expansion franchise. Since March, league officials have said relocating the BCHL team to another city is their long-term plan.
Rich Murphy, chairman of the BCHL board of governors, expressed gratitude to the Penticton team. “We thank the Vees organization for their contributions to the league and look forward to working with them as they move forward with their relocation,” Murphy said earlier this year.
Efforts are underway to find a new home for the team. Attempts to reach Penticton’s BCHL franchise for further comment on the team’s future and possible relocation have not yet yielded a response.
Meanwhile, the new WHL expansion team in Penticton will begin play in September. The team will keep the well-known Vees name. Fred Harbinson will continue as president, general manager, and coach. Harbinson has been a key figure in Penticton hockey, winning over 700 games since taking charge before the 2007-08 BCHL season.
The WHL team’s ownership includes Graham Fraser, majority owner of the former BCHL club since 2008. He is joined by NHL star Mark Scheifele of the Winnipeg Jets and USA Hockey legend Mike Richter.
Games will be held at the South Okanagan Events Centre, a 5,000-seat arena located about 60 kilometers south of Kelowna.
