Penticton Moves From BCHL To WHL

Interesting turn of events when we are hearing that Penticton are jumping from the BCHL to the WHL which many in the hockey circles aren’t really surprised, but just shocked that it took so long.

So what’s in it for Penticton given the move with the first thing that comes to mind is a much higher exposure and brand of hockey and not that the BCHL was’t top quality but some still question the move out of Hockey Canada.

Being branded as an outlaw league reminds me of the days ago when the Junior World Hockey Association started up and BC Hockey was hard pressed against welcoming them to the Association.

As with most sports when any team wants to join into a league of branch that has been working for years the mainstay league or organization is dead-set against any league wanting to join.

In a recent conversation at a WHL game some still question why politics continues to be a major stumbling block in today’s world which all goes back to keeping kids out of sport.

It’s obvious that the cost wasn’t a small amount but rather something that was extremely costly to the ownership as well as paying a territorial fee to possibly the Rockets and the Blazers.

Territorial rights aren’t something new as they go back a few decades when the talk was about Hamilton getting an NHL franchise that would have seen them play rights to the Leafs.

Without sounding overly aragrant it’s fair to say that the WHL is a higher caliber level of hockey that has in the past has players advance from the BCHL to WHL but in today’s hockey world that won’t happen.

One can dream that having the issue of “outlaw league” will one day get resolved but let’s not hold our breath and this can best be described as having this stand-off is like a shoot-out at the OK Corral in yesteryear.

The upcoming year will see Penticton added to the WHL and it’s rumored that the following season Chilliwack will enter into the fold that will see the City have three Junior teams unless the BCHL team moves out.

They would involve the Chilliwack Chiefs, Chilliwack Jets in the PJHL and quite possibly see the Chilliwack Bruins enter using an old name in the history archives when they played out of the old Chilliwack Coliseum.

If you talk to some that were around then that was when hockey was far more physical, aggressive and demanded hockey that had rules unlike today’s rules.

Sure the game was aggressive and  the rules in place helped set the rule standard of today but every decade changes were implemented with the one  that some still question being the centre line off-side pass.

The following is a statement released by the BCHL. Enjoy the read:

The BCHL acknowledged today that ownership of the Penticton Vees has acquired a Western Hockey League (WHL) expansion team, beginning in the 2025-26 season, and the City of Chilliwack has been identified as a WHL expansion location for 2026-27.

Vees ownership will retain its membership in the BCHL and will look to relocate in the near future, while the Chiefs organization, who had no involvement in the city’s WHL expansion process, remains committed to the BCHL and has already formally indicated they will play in the league in 2025-26, expressing their commitment beyond that as well.

“The BCHL remains committed to advancing its position as one of the world’s premier college-tracking junior hockey leagues,” said Rich Murphy, Chairman of the BCHL Board of Governors. “We 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. In addition, we are pleased to have the Chiefs organization in the BCHL next season and beyond.”

“Our focus remains firmly on the future, one that is filled with opportunities for growth and league unity, while continuing our commitment to developing elite student athletes,” continued Murphy. “The BCHL continues to evolve as junior hockey undergoes significant changes, but its foundation remains solid. The league is committed to its mission of creating an environment for student athletes to develop, not only on the ice, but away from it as well, in the gym and in the classroom.”

As a member of the BCHL, there will be no interruption to the Vees current season. Further details about their relocation will be provided at a later date.

Let’s wait and see what the future holds for hockey in the valley and oh yea – the PJHL as well.

Things are on the move for hockey in BC!!!!