Expansion Vees off to the second round of WHL Playoffs

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on April 7, 2026.

sports@medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

The Penticton Vees continue their historic debut season in the WHL.

The Vees advanced to the second round of the WHL Playoffs, downing the Seattle Thunderbirds in Game 5 on Friday. They jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the series, winning Game 3 4-3 on March 31 for a commanding lead before Seattle forced Game 5 with a 4-3, Game 4 win April 1.

In Game 3, Ryden Evers and Jacob Kvasnicka each had a goal and an assist, while former Red Deer Rebels Samuel Drancak had a goal and an assist in Game 4.

After three of four games were decided by one goal, the Vees took the series, winning Game 5 by a decisive 6-3 win Friday. Kvasnicka had a pair of goals and an assist, Louis Wehmann had a pair of goals.

Vees goaltender Andrew Reyelts picked up all four wins in the series, working a .906 save percentage and a 2.45 goals against average. Penticton held Seattle’s power play to a measly 7.1 per cent on 15 attempts.

It’s a second straight first-round exit for the Thunderbirds, who lost in six games in 2025 to the Everett Silvertips, making their first playoff appearance since capturing a WHL Championship in 2023.

Prince George (3) vs. Spokane (6)

Game 3: P.G. 3, SPO 2 OT

Game 4: SPO 3, P.G. 2

Game 5: SPO 4, P.G. 3 OT

Game 6: P.G. 5, SPO 3

Third time was the charm for the Prince George Cougars to advance to the second round.

The Cougars jumped out to a 3-0 lead in their first-round series with the Spokane Chiefs, but the defending Western Conference champions did not go down without a fight.

Prince George won Game 3 on March 31 in overtime 3-2, Arsenii Anisimov potting the overtime winner on a power play for the 3-0 series lead.

Spokane took Game 4 the next night, edging out a 3-2 win. They stayed alive with a 4-3, Game 5 overtime win on Thursday to force Game 6 in Prince George on Sunday. Chase Harrington scored with 56 seconds left in Game 5 to force the overtime and scored the overtime winner with 7:21 left in the extra frame.

The Chiefs opened the scoring in Game 6, and tied the game at 2-2 halfway through the second period. Prince George answered back in the frame though, Dmitri Yakutsenak scoring his second of the game for the eventual game and series winner. Spokane’s Owen Martin scored twice, former Lethbridge Hurricanes Logan Warmold had three assists.

Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Joshua Ravensbergen picked up all four wins for Prince George, with a .918 SV% and a 2.75 GAA. The Cougars’ power play led the WHL in the first round at 52.9 percent.

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