An explosive season of firsts will continue in Penticton.
The WHL’s newest franchise has earned its first playoff series victory with a 6-3 decision over the Seattle Thunderbirds in Game 5 on Friday night.
Louis Wehmann scored twice, including a dazzling solo effort, while New York Islanders prospect Jacob Kvasnicka added two, highlighted by a third-period penalty shot deke.
The Vees have had to battle for every inch against the gritty Thunderbirds.
Alternate captain and WHL veteran Brady Birnie netted the first playoff goal in Vees WHL history, while defenceman Charlie Michaud pulled the trigger in overtime to lift Penticton to a 3-2 win in Game 1.
Netminder Andrew Reyelts took centre stage in Game 2 with a 29-save effort, while Kvasnicka dished a goal and an assist and Danish World Juniors stalwart Tristan Petersen tallied the game-winner to take a 4-1 decision.
WHL regular-season goals leader and Dallas Stars prospect Cameron Schmidt scored twice to give Seattle a 2-1 lead in Game 3, but Kvasnicka and Kraken prospect Ryden Evers lit the lamp to help the Vees outlast the Thunderbirds 4-3.
Four different T-Birds hit the back of the net in Game 4 and hung on for the win, despite a furious three-goal rally from the Vees.
Kvasnicka led Penticton with five goals and four assists for nine points in five games.
He’s has cracked the 2025-26 WHL Western Conference Second All-Star Team, while also being named a finalist for the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy, which is awarded annually to the WHL Rookie of the Year.
Evers is a finalist for the Brad Hornung Memorial Trophy for the WHL’s Most Sportsmanlike Player.
Penticton set a CHL record for wins by an expansion team in its inaugural season with a 44-14-6-4 record.
The Vees captured the B.C. Division title and finished second in the Western Conference in its inaugural run, and alternate captain Ryden Evers also signed an entry-level contract with the Seattle Kraken as an undrafted free agent.
The new kids on the block will aim to continue their history-making run as they await their second-round opponent.
