Penticton's BCHL franchise is looking for a new home.
In March, it was announced the city's Junior A hockey club would be on the move to another market in the wake of the Penticton Vees joining the Western Hockey League (WHL) as an expansion franchise.
The BCHL confirmed that's still the plan, as of May 14, even though it has yet to strike a deal on relocation.
"Nothing is imminent at the moment as far as relocation of the Vees BCHL franchise, but that is still the long-term plan," BCHL director of communications Jesse Adamson told Black Press in an email.
The Vees did not immediately provide comment when asked about the franchise's Junior A future.
Penticton's newly-minted WHL team, which elected to stick with the "Vees" name, will begin play this September for the 2025-2026 season.
The team was bounced from the BCHL playoffs on May 12, falling to the Brooks Bandits in Game 6 of the Interior Conference finals and marking an end to its 64-year run in the league.
The BCHL, which is down 20 teams without Penticton, says the Vees' Junior A franchise could "take a hiatus" if a new landing spot for the team isn't found by the 2025-2026 campaign.
"At the end of the day, we need to make sure the relocation is done strategically in a way that helps the league’s continued growth," Adamson said.
Penticton's more than six-decade run in the BCHL included a record 13 championships and star-studded alumni like Brett Hull, Paul Kariya, and Duncan Keith. Along with the Vees, the team was also known as the Knights, Broncos and Panthers.
"We thank the league for decades of unforgettable rivalries, championships and memories that shapes generations of players and fans," the Vees said in a statement this week following their last BCHL game. "To our players — past and present — thank you for carrying the Vees legacy with pride. We wish you all the best in your future hockey careers."
Penticton took part in the WHL expansion draft on May 7, ahead of its inaugural major junior hockey season.
The team will play inside the 5,000-seat South Okanagan Events Centre, located about 60 kilometres south of Kelowna, as part of the WHL's Western Conference.
