Penticton Vees

(Redirected from Penticton Panthers)

The Penticton Vees are a junior "A" ice hockey team from Penticton, British Columbia, Canada. They are a part of the British Columbia Hockey League. The junior Vees were founded in 1961, sharing the name of the senior hockey team, the Penticton Vees, and since resuming full league play after Covid-19, have repeated as BCHL League Champions in 2021-22 and 2022-23.

Penticton Vees
CityPenticton, British Columbia
LeagueBritish Columbia Hockey League
DivisionInterior
Founded1961 (1961)
Home arenaSouth Okanagan Events Centre
ColoursBlack, blue, and white
     
General managerFred Harbinson
Head coachFred Harbinson
Franchise history
1961–1963Penticton Junior Vees
1964–1975Penticton Broncos
1975–1979Penticton Vees
1979–1990Penticton Knights
1990–2004Penticton Panthers
2004–presentPenticton Vees

History

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The Junior Vees were one of the inaugural teams in the Okanagan-Mainline Junior Hockey League (OMJHL), launched in 1961. The league became the British Columbia Junior Hockey League (BCJHL) in 1967.

The Penticton Vees were named for the Veteren, Valiant, and Vidette varieties of peaches grown in the Okanagan Valley.[1]

The Vees were Mowat Cup champions in 1968, 1973, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985, as well as in 1986, when they were also Centennial Cup champions. After 26 years since their last RBC Cup appearance, the Vees advanced to the championship game in the 2012 RBC Cup in Humboldt, Saskatchewan, defeating the Woodstock Slammers 4–3 on a goal by Joey Benik to win the Canadian National Junior A Championship.

Season-by-season record

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Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes

SeasonGPWLTOTLGFGAPtsFinishPlayoffs
1961–6227918093149183rd, OMJHLLost in Semifinals, 1–3 (Rockets)
1962–633113006130024th, OMJHLLost in Semifinals, 0–2 (default) (Rockets)
1963–64Did not participate
1964–653011154104159263rd, OJHLLost in Semifinals, 1–4 (Kraft Kings)
1965–663015141145113313rd, OJHLLost in Semifinals, 1–4 (Buckaroos)
1966–67403370661st, OJHLFred Page Cup Champions, 4–1 (Buckaroos)
1967–68403082218123621stWon finals
Won Mowat Cup
Won BC/AB Championship
Lost Abbott Cup
1968–694023143209157492ndLost in Finals
1969–704819236188202445thDid not qualify
1970–716036195275203772ndDid not compete in league playoffs
Lost Doyle Cup
1971–726033207732ndLost in Finals
1972–736241183314232852ndWon finals
Won Mowat Cup
Won Doyle Cup
Lost Abbott Cup
1973–746438242310280783rdLost in Semi-finals
1974–756635292379334722ndLost in Quarter-finals
1975–766627363302337576thLost in Finals
1976–776843223404307893rdLost in Finals
1977–786647172492303962ndForfeited Finals
1978–7962233722633104810thDid not qualify
1979–806041181350240832ndWon finals
Won Mowat Cup
Lost Doyle Cup
1980–815635201267227712ndWon finals
Won Mowat Cup
Lost Doyle Cup
1981–82484350364130861stWon finals
Won Mowat Cup
Lost Doyle Cup
1982–835634220355249685thLost in Semi-finals
1983–846047130448197941stLost in Finals
1984–85524750498193941stWon finals
Won Mowat Cup
Won Doyle Cup
Won Abbott Cup
Lost Centennial Cup
1985–86524480433195881stWon finals
Won Mowat Cup
Won Doyle Cup
Won Abbott Cup
Won Centennial Cup
1986–875230193284205635thLost in Quarter-finals
1987–885226260268252526thLost in Semi-finals
1988–8960164222603513410thDid not qualify
1989–902762101071741210thFolded in season
1990–9160134432453582910thDid not qualify
1991–926038202321277783rdLost in Quarter-finals
1992–936035232350282722ndLost in Semi-finals
1993–946040173341261833rdLost in Quarter-finals
1994–956042162321250861st in InteriorLost in Semi-finals
1995–966032262269248662nd in InteriorLost in Quarter-finals
1996–976031272285236643rd in InteriorLost in Quarter-finals
1997–986045123296177931st in InteriorLost in Finals
1998–996033225230197713rd in InteriorLost in Quarter-finals
1999–006042144283167881st in InteriorLost in Quarter-finals
2000–016048102280166981st in InteriorLost in Semi-finals
2001–026032217222209712nd in InteriorLost in Semi-finals
2002–0360203226222268486th in InteriorLost in Preliminary
2003–0460222819178237547th of 8, Interior
15th of 17, BCHL
Did not qualify
2004–0560252627180193596th of 8, Interior
11 of 17, BCHL
Lost in Quarter-finals
2005–0660411324245137882nd of 8, Interior
4th of 17, BCHL
Lost in Finals
2006–0760411423231163871st of 9, Interior
1st of 17, BCHL
Lost in Semi-finals
2007–0860411522235146861st of 8, Interior
1st of 16, BCHL
Won 1st round, 4-3 (Vipers)
Won semi-finals, 4-0 (Warriors)
Won finals, 4-0 (Clippers)
2008–0960361707220159794th of 8, Interior
4th of 16, BCHL
Did not qualify
2009–1060488042841431002nd of 9, Interior
2nd of 17, BCHL
Lost semi-finals
2010–1160381732217171812nd of 8, Interior
3rd of 16, BCHL
Won 1st round, 4-0 (Millionaires)
Lost 2nd round, 4-1 (Silverbacks)
2011–1260544023341331101st of 8, Interior
1st of 16, BCHL
Won 1st round, 4-2 (Chiefs)
Won semi-finals, 4-1 (Centennials)
Won finals, 4-0 (Kings)
Won Doyle Cup, 4-1 (Bandits)
Won Royal Bank Cup, 4-3 (Slammers)
2012–1356351605197137751st of 6, Interior
2nd of 16, BCHL
Won 1st round, 4-0 (Silverbacks)
Won semi-finals, 4-1 (Warriors)
Lost finals, 4-2 (Eagles)
2013–1458361624199137781st of 6, Interior
3rd of 16, BCHL
Won 1st round, 4-0 (Centennials)
Lost 2nd round, 4-3 (Vipers)
2014–155844932216115931st of 6, Interior
1st of 16, BCHL
Won 1st round, (Warriors)
Won 2nd round, 4-3 (Vipers)
Won final, 4-2 (Clippers)
Won Western Canada Cup, 4-1 (Terriers)
Lost Royal Bank Cup, 1-0 (Canadians)
2015–1658507102631211011st of 6, Interior
1st of 17, BCHL
Won first round, 4-0 (Vipers)
Lost division finals, 4-2 (Warriors)
2016–1758411331189129861st of 6, Interior
3rd of 17, BCHL
Won Div. Semi-finals 3–4 (Centennials)
Won Div. Finals 4–3 (Vipers)
Won League Finals, 4–3 (Chiefs)
2017–1858401233216130861st of 7, Interior
1st of 17, BCHL
Won Div. Quarterfinals 4–0 (Express)
Lost div. semi-finals 3–4 (Smoke Eaters)
2018–195837165200143791st of 7, Interior
3rd of 17, BCHL
Lost First Round, 2–4 (Capitals)
2019–2058441202225135901st of 7, Interior
2nd of 17, BCHL
Won First Round, 4–1 (Warriors)
Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2020–2120181019023371st of 3, Penticton Pod
1st of 16, BCHL
Covid-19 "pod season" - no playoffs
2021–225443812256123891st of 9, Interior
1st of 18, BCHL
Won Div Quarterfinal, 4–1 (Smoke Eaters)
Won Div. Semifinal, 4–0 (Spruce Kings)
Won Div. Finals, 4–0 (Warriors)
Won League Finals, 4–0 (Clippers)
2022–235450300304961011st of 9, Interior
1st of 18, BCHL
Won 1st round, 4-0 (Smoke Eaters)
Won 2nd round, 4-0 (Wild)
Won semi-finals, 4-1 (Silverbacks)
Won finals, 4-0 (Bulldogs)
2023–2454381003202116821st of 8, Interior
2nd of 17, BCHL
Won 1st round, 4-0 (Spruce Kings)
Won 2nd round, 4-1 (Vipers)
Won semi-finals, 4-3 (Silverbacks)
Lost finals, 4-2 (Eagles)

Western Canada Cup

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Western Canada Cup was the Western Canada Junior A Championship held from 2013 to 2017. The champions from the AJHL, BCHL, MJHL, SJHL, and a host team competed in round-robin tournament. After the round-robin, the first and second place team played for championship, the loser then played a runner-up g game against the winner of a third vs. fourth semifinal game. The champion and runners-up would then qualify to compete for the RBC Cup and the National Junior A Championship.

YearRound-robinRecordStandingSemifinalChampionship gameRunner-up game
2015W, Spruce Grove Saints 11–3
W, Fort McMurray Oil Barons 6–0
W, Melfort Mustangs 3–1
L, Portage Terriers 2–3
3–1–01st of 5W, Portage Terriers 4–3
Champions
2017
Host
OTW, Battlefords North Stars 2–1
OTL, Brooks Bandits 1–2
L, Chilliwack Chiefs 2–4
W, Portage Terriers 5–3
1–1–1–13rd of 5W, Battlefords North Stars 4–0W, Chilliwack Chiefs 3–2

National Junior A Championship

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The National Junior A Championship, formerly known as the Royal Bank Cup from 1996 to 2018, is the annual championship tournament for Hockey Canada's junior A hockey leagues. Depending on the year, various regional champions, qualifiers, and hosts participate in the championship tournament. The tournament usually consists of opening in a round-robin with the top four teams then advancing to a semifinal were the winners compete a championship game.

YearRound-robinRecordStandingSemifinalChampionship Game
2012L, Soo Thunderbirds 1–2
OTL, Humboldt Broncos 2–3
W Woodstock Slammers 2–1
W, Portage Terriers 3–1
2–1–13rd of 5W, Soo Thunderbirds 3–0W, Woodstock Slammers 3–2
National Champions
2015L, Portage Terriers 2–3
W, Melfort Mustangs 4–0
W Carleton Place Canadians 4–3
W, Soo Thunderbirds 5–2
3–1–02nd of 5L, Carleton Place Canadians 1–2 (2OT)
2017OTL, Brooks Bandits 1–2
OTW, Cobourg Cougars 3–2
W, Trenton Golden Hawks 4–0
L, Terrebonne Cobras 1–3
1–1–1–14th of 5L, Cobourg Cougars 1–3

NHL alumni

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Forty-three alumni of the junior Penticton team have moved on to play in the National Hockey League.

In the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, Bradly Nadeau was drafted in the first round by the Carolina Hurricanes (# 30 overall) as the only first-round BCHL player selected and Aydar Suniev was selected #80 by Calgary Flames. 19 2022-23 players have committed to NCAA Hockey teams, including the two NHL draftees.

Penticton Broncos (1964–1975)[2]

Penticton Vees (1975–1979)[3]

Penticton Knights (1979–1990)[4]

Penticton Panthers (1990–2004)[5]

Penticton Vees (2004–present)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Cinderella Had Nothing On Penticton V's Club". Winnipeg Tribune. Winnipeg, Manitoba. February 12, 1955. p. 21.
  2. ^ Penticton Broncos alumni search from legendsofhockey.net
  3. ^ Penticton Vees (junior) alumni search from legendsofhockey.net
  4. ^ Penticton Knights alumni search from legendsofhockey.net
  5. ^ Penticton Panthers alumni search from legendsofhockey.net
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Preceded by Centennial Cup Champions
1986
Succeeded by
Preceded by Royal Bank Cup Champions
2012
Succeeded by