Penticton Vees Advance to Round 2 of WHL Playoffs

Vees defeat Seattle Thunderbirds 6-3 in Game 5 to win series 4-1

Apr. 4, 2026 at 4:41am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting featuring angular, abstracted forms in shades of blue, white, and silver, representing the action and energy of a hockey game.The Penticton Vees' playoff victory over the Seattle Thunderbirds is captured in a dynamic, cubist-inspired illustration that captures the intensity and movement of the game.Seattle Today

The Penticton Vees defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 6-3 in Game 5 of their first-round WHL playoff series, advancing to the second round. The Vees jumped out to a 4-1 lead by the end of the second period and held on for the victory in front of over 4,200 fans at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

Why it matters

The Vees' victory over the Thunderbirds marks their first playoff series win since 2021, as they look to make a deep run in this year's WHL postseason. Penticton has been one of the top teams in the league all season and will now await their second-round opponent.

The details

Ryden Evers opened the scoring for the Vees in the first period, but the Thunderbirds quickly tied it on a power-play goal by Cameron Schmidt. Penticton then scored three unanswered goals, including two from Louie Wehmann, to take a 4-1 lead by the end of the second period. Jacob Kvasnicka added a penalty shot goal and an empty-net tally in the third to seal the victory for the Vees.

  • The game was played on Friday, April 4, 2026.
  • Penticton scored the first goal of the game early in the first period.
  • Seattle scored their first goal shortly after Penticton's opening goal to tie the game 1-1.
  • Penticton scored three unanswered goals in the second period to take a 4-1 lead.
  • Kvasnicka scored Penticton's fifth and sixth goals in the third period.

The players

Ryden Evers

A forward for the Penticton Vees who scored the opening goal of the game.

Cameron Schmidt

A forward for the Seattle Thunderbirds who scored their first goal on the power play.

Louie Wehmann

A forward for the Penticton Vees who scored two goals in the second period to give the Vees a 4-1 lead.

Nolan Stevenson

The captain of the Penticton Vees who scored a goal in the second period.

Jacob Kvasnicka

A forward for the Penticton Vees who scored a penalty shot goal and an empty-net goal in the third period.

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What they’re saying

“The energy in the building was incredible tonight. Our fans really pushed us to victory.”

— Nolan Stevenson, Penticton Vees Captain

“We knew the Thunderbirds would come out strong, but our team responded well and we were able to capitalize on our chances.”

— Louie Wehmann, Penticton Vees Forward

What’s next

The Penticton Vees will now wait to see who they will face in the second round of the WHL playoffs after winning their first-round series 4-1 over the Seattle Thunderbirds.

The takeaway

The Penticton Vees' dominant performance in the first-round series against the Thunderbirds showcases their status as one of the top teams in the WHL. With a passionate home crowd behind them and contributions from multiple players, the Vees are poised to make a deep playoff run as they advance to the second round.