Penticton's BCHL franchise is officially on a hiatus.
League officials confirmed they were unable to find a new home for the team in time for the upcoming season after the city was awarded a WHL expansion franchise earlier this year.
BCHL spokesperson Jesse Adamson said the franchise won't operate during the 2025-26 campaign and that the league is actively looking to relocate the franchise to another market.
"Our hope is that it's resolved in time for the 2026-27 season, but that will only happen if we find the right fit," Adamson added in an email.
The league is down to 20 teams with Penticton out of the fold.
Known as the Knights, Broncos, Panthers and Vees during its 64-year BCHL run, Penticton won a record 14 Fred Page Cup titles.
The future of Penticton's BCHL club was unclear in the immediate aftermath of the city getting its own WHL expansion team. League officials have maintained since March that moving the franchise to another market is the "long-term plan."
鈥淲e thank the Vees organization for their contributions to the league and we look forward to continuing to work with them as they move forward with their relocation," BCHL board governors chairman Rich Murphy said earlier this year.
Black Press Media has reached out to Penticton's BCHL franchise for further comment on its future and potential relocation.
Penticton's WHL expansion team, meanwhile, will begin major junior hockey play in September under the familiar Vees' branding.
The club remains led by president, general manager, and coach Fred Harbinson, who won more than 700 games with Penticton in the BCHL since taking the job ahead of the 2007-2008 campaign.
Vees majority owner Graham Fraser is joined by Winnipeg Jets star Mark Scheifele and USA Hockey legend Mike Richter as partners in the WHL team. Fraser took control of Penticton's BCHL club in 2008.
The team will play its game inside the 5,000-seat South Okanagan Events Centre, located about 60 kilometres south of 琉璃神社.
