WHL awards expansion team to Penticton Vees; application process begins for Chilliwack
One of the most storied franchises in the BCHL is heading to the Western Hockey League (WHL).
On Monday, the WHL officially announced that the Penticton Vees would be joining the league via expansion for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
The WHL also announced that they had initiated talks with the city of Chilliwack regarding expansion for the 2026-27 season.
The WHL and the Penticton Vees will host an Expansion Draft on May 7th.
The WHL announced today the awarding of an expansion franchise to the @PentictonVees for the 2025-26 WHL season along with the initiation of a franchise application process for the @City_Chilliwack, to begin play in the 2026-27 WHL season.
📰 | https://t.co/KVBoiC9Puc pic.twitter.com/v0rGb0PsPQ
The City of Penticton sent out invites to the media Sunday afternoon regarding a press conference Monday morning at the South Okanagan Events Centre featuring Mayor Julius Bloomfield, WHL commissioner Dan Near, Vees owner Graham Fraser and Vees general manager/head coach Fred Harbinson.
With Penticton joining, the club would be the 12th team in the WHL’s Western Conference and the sixth in the B.C. Division, joining the Vancouver Giants, Kelowna Rockets, Kamloops Blazers, Victoria Royals and Prince George Cougars.
The expansion fee is yet to be official, but sources have told Daily Faceoff it is estimated to be between $12 and $15 million, which includes a payment to the Kelowna Rockets for territorial rights.
“This is an exciting day, as the Western Hockey League takes its next step as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players,” commented WHL Commissioner Dan Near. “Communities within B.C. produce talented young players from thriving grassroots hockey programs and we’re pleased to deliver WHL franchises to two important centres in the province – Penticton and Chilliwack. In each market the WHL operates in, we aim to serve as role models within the local hockey community, business community, and beyond. We look forward to the opportunity to continue these efforts in Penticton and Chilliwack.”
Two of the most notable Vees players to play in the last 20 years are Carolina Hurricanes forward Tyson Jost and Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Dante Fabbro. Others from previous generations include Brett Hull and Paul Kariya.