Game Preview: Vees at Rockets
Published on March 21, 2026 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Penticton Vees News Release
The Penticton Vees wrap up their regular season with the back half of a home-and-home in Kelowna against the Rockets. Puck drop is 6:00PM.
Catch all the action on Victory+, Summit 800 AM and Summit 98.5 Summerland.
The Vees (43-14-6-4) used strong goaltending and a huge double-minor penalty kill to start the third period to guide themselves to a 2-1 victory over the Rockets last night in Penticton. Ryden Evers (35) and Brittan Alstead (21) were the goal scorers for the Vees in the win while AJ Reyelts stopped 26/27 shots he faced.
The Rockets enter Friday's matchup 38-20-6-3 on the year. They are locked into fourth in the Western Conference and will play either Kamloops or Spokane in the first round. Kelowna is 6-2-1-1 in their last 10 games and had a six game point streak snapped last night in Penticton.
Vees Player to Watch: F Jacob Kvasnicka: Kvasnicka hit the 50 assist mark last night. His 85 points lead the Vees and he is second among all WHL rookies.
Fast Fact: The teams the Vees will face in the first round have been narrowed down to two. Either Portland or Seattle will be Penticton's opponent in the opening round of the WHL playoffs. Those two teams play each other tonight.
HEAD TO HEAD: This is the eighth and final meeting of the season between the two Okanagan rivals. The Vees are 4-2-0-1 against the Rockets this season and have won the last three contests.
2025-26 Scoring Leaders:
Vees:
Jacob Kvasnicka- 85 points (35g, 50a)
Ryden Evers- 74 points (35g, 39a)
Brady Birnie- 70 points (22g, 48a)
Matteo Danis- 57 points (29g, 28a)
Brittan Alstead- 56 points (21g, 35a)
Rockets
Tij Iginla- 90 points (41g, 49a)
Carson Wetsch- 72 points (22g, 50a)
Shane Smith- 68 points (33g, 35a)
Western Hockey League Stories from March 21, 2026
- Wild Take Silvertips to Brink in 2025-26 Finale, Fall, 6-5, Saturday in Everett - Wenatchee Wild
- Spokane Dominates Tri-City, 6-1, in Front of Another Sell-Out Home Crowd - Spokane Chiefs
- Winterhawks Fall in Overtime to Thunderbirds, Clinch Postseason Berth - Portland Winterhawks
- Tigers Hit 50 Wins, Beat Rebels, 8-3, in Regular Season Finale - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Vees Cap Record Setting Regular Season with a Win - Penticton Vees
- Rockets Lose, 5-0, to Vees - Kelowna Rockets
- Broncos End off Season on a High Note - Swift Current Broncos
- Warriors' Season Ends with Disappointing Loss to Broncos - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Pats Clinch 2026 WHL Playoff Berth, Set to Face Tigers - Regina Pats
- Americans' Season Ends With 6-1 Loss In Spokane - Tri-City Americans
- Pats Fall 4-2 to Wheat Kings in Regular Season Finale, Clinch Playoff Spot with Warriors Loss - Regina Pats
- Wheat Kings Hit 40-Win Mark with Season Closing Victory over Regina - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Winterhawks Announce 2025-2026 Team Awards - Portland Winterhawks
- 2027 WHL Prospects Game to be Hosted by Brandon Wheat Kings on February 17, 2027 - WHL
- Spokane Chiefs Announce Saturday's Game vs Tri-City Officially Sold Out - Spokane Chiefs
- Game Preview: Vees at Rockets - Penticton Vees
- Oil Kings to Meet Blades in First Round of WHL Playoffs - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Game Preview: Game 68 vs Rebels - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Chiefs Face Rival Americans for Turn Back the Clock Night Saturday - Spokane Chiefs
- Preview: Americans at Chiefs - March 21, 2026 - Tri-City Americans
- Warriors' Playoff Chase Comes Down to Final Game - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Game Day Hub: March 21 vs Seattle - Portland Winterhawks
- Leyerzapf Turns Aside 54 in WHL Debut Friday as Wild Defeat Everett, 5-1 - Wenatchee Wild
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