Game Preview: Vees at Rockets
Published on January 24, 2026 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Penticton Vees News Release
The Penticton Vees will look to extend their winning streak to 13 when they travel to Kelowna to face the Rockets. Puck drop is 6:00PM.
Catch all the action on Victory+, Summit 800 AM and Summit 98.5 Summerland.
The Vees (27-9-4-3) grabbed their 12th straight victory defeating Spokane 6-0. Nolan Stevenson had a pair of goals and Jacob Kvasnicka moved into a tie for the league lead in shorthanded goals with his fourth in the victory. AJ Reyelts stopped all 19 shots he faced for his second shutout of the season.
The Rockets enter Saturday's matchup 22-15-4-2. Kelowna doubled up Seattle last night in Seattle, taking down the Thunderbirds 6-3. The Rockets sit in 4th in the Western Conference standings this season and are 5-3-1-1 in their last 10 games.
Vees Player to Watch: D Nolan Stevenson: The Vees captain is now up to six goals on the year and sits in a tie for third in the WHL in powerplay points by a defenceman with 22.
Fast Fact: The Penticton Vees have the second most wins by an expansion team in WHL history already this season. Their 27 wins are second behind Everett who had 35 in 2003-04.
HEAD TO HEAD: This is the sixth of eight meetings between these two Okanagan rivals. The Vees are 2-2-0-1 head-to-head with the Rockets this season. The last time these two faced off was Dec. 29 in Kelowna, a game which the Vees won 6-4. The next meetings will be a home-and-home on the final two nights of the regular season.
2025-26 Scoring Leaders:
Vees:
Jacob Kvasnicka- 57 points (24g, 33a)
Ryden Evers- 54 points (25g, 29a)
Brady Birnie- 46 points (15g, 31a)
Brittan Alstead- 36 points (15g, 21a)
Matteo Danis- 35 points (18g, 17a)
Rockets
Shane Smith- 53 points (24g, 29a)
Carson Wetsch- 48 points (16g, 32a)
Ty Halaburda- 45 points (22g, 23a)
Western Hockey League Stories from January 24, 2026
- Armstrong, Oremba Score But Chiefs Drop Second Straight - Spokane Chiefs
- Giants Drop Third Straight to Cougars - Vancouver Giants
- Tri-City Escapes Town Toyota Center with 4-3 Overtime Win Saturday - Wenatchee Wild
- Seitz Scores Twice as Cougars Extend Win Streak to Five - Prince George Cougars
- T-Birds Edged out in Everett - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Pats Battle to the End, Fall, 6-3, to Hitmen to Close Alberta Road Trip - Regina Pats
- Americans Battle Back From 3-0 Deficit For Overtime Win In Wenatchee - Tri-City Americans
- Vees Defeat Rival Rockets - Penticton Vees
- Rockets Fall, 5-0, to Vees - Kelowna Rockets
- Hawks Drop Tight Contest to Wheat Kings in Overtime - Portland Winterhawks
- Jacobson, Mistelbacher Connect on Overtime Winner in Portland - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Eskit Earns First Career Win in Historic 7-3 Victory over Royals - Swift Current Broncos
- Tigers Fall to Raiders, 5-1 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Game Preview: Vees at Rockets - Penticton Vees
- Chiefs Look to Bounce Back as They Host Kamloops Saturday Night - Spokane Chiefs
- Game Preview: Game 56 AT Raiders - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Game Day Hub: January 24 vs Brandon - Portland Winterhawks
- Wild Finish on High Note Despite 7-2 Loss to Kamloops Friday - Wenatchee Wild
- Game Preview: Cougars vs. Giants: 0 - Prince George Cougars
- Rockets Roll Past Thunderbirds with 6-3 Road Win - Kelowna Rockets
- Preview: Americans at Wild - January 24, 2026 - Tri-City Americans
- Giants Surrender 4 Second Period Goals in Road Loss to Cougars - Vancouver Giants
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