Penticton Vees Confident Heading Into First WHL Playoff Run
After a historic debut season in the Western Hockey League, the Penticton Vees are entering the playoffs with confidence as they prepare for their opening-round matchup against the Seattle Thunderbirds.
Finishing second in the Western Conference, Penticton will take on the seventh-seeded Thunderbirds, a team head coach and general manager Fred Harbinson respects but believes his group is ready to challenge. He noted that his players tend to elevate their performance against strong opponents and have built momentum with a strong finish to the regular season.
Harbinson emphasized the physical nature of Seattle’s game and the need to match that intensity, especially with the presence of standout scorer Cameron Schmidt, the league’s only 50-goal scorer this season. Still, he made it clear the Thunderbirds are far from a one-player team.
Despite the challenge, the Vees hold an advantage in the season series, having won all four meetings between the two clubs.
Drawing from his experience, Harbinson said his approach to the postseason remains unchanged, stressing a steady, game-by-game mindset regardless of league or situation. While the team lacks playoff experience together, he believes they’ve played a disciplined, postseason-style brand of hockey all year.
Expectations were modest when Penticton joined the WHL, with many projecting a multi-year rebuild before playoff contention. Instead, the Vees exceeded those projections, finishing with 44 wins and 98 points—the best record ever by a CHL expansion team.
A dominant second half, including a strong home record after the holiday break, fueled their surge into the postseason. Harbinson credited a team-first mentality and strong fan support as key factors in their success.
Now, with their first WHL playoff series set, the Vees are focused on continuing their impressive run and making life difficult for Seattle—and any opponent that follows.
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