Vees release inaugural schedule for WHL regular season

The Penticton Vees, in conjunction with the Western Hockey League (WHL), have announced their 68-game schedule for the 2025-26 regular season.

The Vees open their inaugural season in the WHL on the road, as they visit the defending B.C. Division champion Victoria Royals on Friday, September 19^th. Penticton’s opening weekend concludes the next night, Saturday, September 20^th, in Langley against the Vancouver Giants.

Home Opener

As previously announced, the Vees home opener is Friday, September 26^th, against the 2026 Memorial Cup host Kelowna Rockets at the South Okanagan Events Centre (SOEC). A highly anticipated night, as Penticton and Kelowna begin a new Okanagan rivalry. Tickets for the Vees’ home opener, and a promotional schedule for marquee home games, will be released at a later date.

Home Start Times

The WHL regular season schedule features 34 home games. Start times for all Vees’ home games, sorted by day of the week, are listed below: 

• Monday through Thursday Games: 6:35 pm
• Friday Games: 7:05 pm
• Saturday Games: 6:05 pm
• Sunday Games: 2:00 pm

Exceptions to the above are the following three holiday games:

• Monday, October 13^th vs. Victoria, 2:00 pm (Thanksgiving)
• Thursday, January 1^st vs. Prince George, 4:00 pm (New Year’s Day)
• Monday, February 16^th, vs. Prince George, 2:00 pm (Family Day)

Schedule Breakdown

Of the Vees’ 34 regular season home games, 26 will be played on weekends or holidays. Holiday games at the SOEC include Thanksgiving Monday, New Year’s Day, and Family Day. The Vees also play at home during the Christmas holiday season, as the host the Royals on December 30^th.

The WHL’s scheduling format sees the Vees play against all 22 league opponents.

Within the B.C. Division, the Vees play the Rockets eight times (four home, four away) and Kamloops, Prince George, Vancouver, and Victoria six times each (three home, three away).

Penticton plays the U.S. Division (Everett, Portland, Seattle, Spokane, Tri-City, Wenatchee) four times each (two home, two away).

For the 2025-26 regular season, the five Central Division teams (Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, and Red Deer) visit the SOEC. The defending Ed Chynoweth Cup champion Medicine Hat Tigers come to Penticton on October 27^th.

The Vees make the trek to the Prairies in February to play the six East Division clubs (Brandon, Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Regina, Saskatoon, and Swift Current) in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, their longest trip of the season.

Penticton’s longest home stand is five games from October 11^th to October 24^th. Their busiest months are January and February with 13 contests in each month.

Schedule Notes

• The 2025-26 regular season will pause for the WHL’s annual Christmas break. The Vees will not play games between December 18^th-28^th.
• The WHL Trade Deadline is Thursday, January 8^th, 2026, at 6:00 pm MT.
• Penticton’s final regular season home games is Friday, March 20^th, against the Rockets. The Vees final regular season game is the following night, Saturday, March 21^st, in Kelowna.
• Tuesday, March 24^th, is the WHL Tiebreaker Day, should a tiebreaker game(s) be required to settle the 2025-26 WHL Regular Season standings.
• The 2026 WHL Playoffs and the battle for the Ed Chynoweth Cup, will begin Friday, March 27^th. The WHL Championship series is May 8^th-18^th.
• The 2026 Memorial Cup will be hosted in Kelowna, B.C., by the Rickets from May 22^nd, through Sunday, May 31^st.

Games by Month

• September: 4 (1 Home)
• October: 10 (8 Home)
• November: 11 (7 Home)
• December: 9 (4 Home)
• January: 13 (7 Home)
• February: 13 (3 Home)
• March: 8 (4 Home)