As of March 16, 2025, it has not been officially confirmed that the Penticton Vees will join the Western Hockey League (WHL) next season. Multiple reports and sources from mid-February 2025 strongly suggest that the Vees are set to leave the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) to become an expansion team in the WHL for the 2025-26 season. However, both the WHL and the Penticton Vees have refrained from making a definitive statement. The WHL has acknowledged that its Board of Governors met in February 2025 to discuss future plans, but emphasized that “no final decisions were made.” The Vees, meanwhile, have declined to comment on the rumors, focusing instead on their current season.
The speculation stems from various hockey insiders and media outlets reporting that the Vees have paid significant fees—potentially in the range of $5 million to $15 million—to the WHL for expansion and over $1 million to the Kelowna Rockets for territorial rights, given Penticton’s proximity to Kelowna (approximately 62 km). These financial details, while widely cited, remain unverified by official sources, leaving the move as a strong probability rather than a certainty at this point.
What’s Happening with the BCHL?
If the Penticton Vees do depart, it would represent a significant blow to the BCHL, where they have been a flagship franchise since the league’s inception in 1961. The Vees are a perennial powerhouse, currently leading the BCHL standings with a 34-7-5 record as of early March 2025, and have a storied history with 14 championships and numerous NHL alumni. Their exit could raise questions about the BCHL’s long-term stability, especially following its decision to leave Hockey Canada in 2023 and the NCAA’s recent rule change allowing CHL (including WHL) players to retain college eligibility—a key differentiator the BCHL once held over Major Junior leagues.
There’s no concrete evidence of immediate expansion or new teams replacing Penticton in the BCHL. The league has not publicly outlined a contingency plan, though it currently operates with 21 teams across British Columbia and Alberta. Some sources hint at broader instability, with whispers of other teams, like the Chilliwack Chiefs, potentially eyeing a WHL move in 2026-27. However, these remain speculative. The BCHL’s next steps—whether contraction, realignment, or recruitment of new franchises—are unclear without official statements.
WHL Expansion and New Teams
If the Vees join the WHL, they would become the league’s 23rd team, expanding the B.C. Division to six teams and the Western Conference to 12, leaving the Eastern Conference with 11. This would mark the WHL’s first expansion since the Edmonton Oil Kings joined in 2007-08. Beyond Penticton, there’s no confirmed plan for additional WHL expansion, though Chilliwack has been mentioned as a possible future candidate. Any further moves would likely depend on the Penticton situation’s resolution and the WHL’s strategic goals.
In summary, while the Penticton Vees’ move to the WHL is widely anticipated based on February 2025 reports, it lacks official confirmation as of now. The BCHL’s future remains uncertain without a clear response to a potential Vees exit, and no specific expansion or new team plans have been solidified for either league. Stay tuned for official announcements, as the situation could evolve rapidly as the 2024-25 season progresses.