After spending years in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), the Penticton Vees organization set its sights on the Western Hockey League (WHL) in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) as the new expansion team for the 2025-2026 season. Not only did they secure a spot in the WHL Playoffs in their first season, but they are now record holders in the entire CHL. How did a team from Penticton become one to watch for the upcoming playoffs?
There’s a new record holder in town
On Friday, February 27, the Vees defeated the Prince Albert Raiders 3-2 in a shootout claim their 38th win of the season. In any normal season, that would be something to be happy about on a trip to the playoffs. However, this is not a normal 38th victory during a hockey season. Following their victory, the Vees now hold the record for the most wins in a season by an expansion team in the CHL.
Related: The Big WHL Trip #10: Edmonton Oil Kings
The Longueuil Cavaliers set the previous record during the 1982-83 season after going 37-29-4 in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). They scored a total of 78 points that season. Currently, the Vees are 38-13-4-4 with 84 points. Additionally, they secured their first-ever playoff berth in the WHL Playoffs. The Everett Silvertips have the first seed in the Western Conference with 99 points. The Vees are second seed after 59 games played.
The Vees are managed by co-owner Graham Fraser, who also owns the rights to the BCHL Penticton Vees, the same team that saw Carolina Hurricanes prospect Bradly Nadeau post 113 points and win two BCHL championships in 2022-2023. The team’s minority owners include Mark Scheifele of the Winnipeg Jets and former New York Rangers goaltender Mike Richter.
It’s been an impressive season for the new team, which had to recruit its roster of 15 players ahead of the 2025 Expansion Draft in May 2025, along with the WHL Prospects Draft and WHL US Priority Drafts. Additionally, only nine players from their entire roster did not have their WHL rights claimed prior to the 2025-2026 season. Essentially, they had to fill their 50-player roster with the expansion draft. Fast forward to the end of February, and the Vees are only the second team in the WHL’s Western Conference to find themselves in the playoffs.
Related: The Big WHL Trip #1: Saskatoon Blades
It says a lot about how the head coach, general manager and team president, Fred Harbinsonhas kept the winning culture alive in the organization. Since joining the team in the 2007-08 season, he has made the BCHL Playoffs every year, winning six championships along the way. Now, in his first season in the WHL, he will lead his team to another playoff berth. What the Vees have done is remarkable, and it’s a testament to the winning culture in Penticton to set a record as an expansion team and have success in their first season.
Currently Jacob Kvasnicka leads the team in goals (33), assists (44) and points (77). Netminder Andrew Reyelts leads in wins (26) and goals-against average (2.47). He is second on the team in save percentage (.906), just .001 behind Ethan McCallum’s .907. Both goalies have three shutouts each.
After claiming the milestone, the season continues for the Vees as they take on the Moose Jaw Warriors on Saturday night (February 28) to conclude their six-game road trip. With nine games remaining in the regular season, the Vees will look to solidify the second seed in the Western Conference. They are ten points ahead of the Prince George Courgars, who have played the same number of games. Then their sights will be set on making a deep playoff run in their first-ever postseason appearance. Can they continue their historic run?
#Penticton #Vees #Sets #CHL #Record #Wins #Expansion #Team #Hockey #Writers #CHL #Latest #News #Analysis