Penticton Vees (senior)

History

The first game played by the senior Penticton Vees was opening of Penticton Memorial Arena on October 25, 1951, versus the Vernon Canadians. The Vees played in the Okanagan Senior Hockey League, and in 1953, were crowned Champions of Western Canada. They almost won the Allan Cup in their second season in 1952-53, losing the final to the Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen. The next season they went all the way to win the Allan Cup, beating the Sudbury Wolves in a series that went all seven games. This qualified them to go to the 1955 World Ice Hockey Championships in Krefeld, West Germany. They won the tournament beating the Soviet Union 5–0 for the gold medal. The Vees won another provincial championship in 1960. Six alumni from the senior Vees, also played in the National Hockey League. They are James Bedard, Edward Diachuk, Connie Madigan, George McAvoy, Bill Warwick and his brother Grant Warwick.

After that win the team went into the doldrums. A small city like Penticton could not really support a top-notch senior team. In 1960-61 the team folded, only a few months before the entire league collapsed.

Okanagan Senior League

Season Games Won Lost Tied Points Goals for Goals against Standing Playoffs 1951–52 52 15 35 2 32 - - 4th out of playoffs 1952–53 54 23 24 7 53 233 211 3rd Won Final Won Province Lost Allan Cup 1953–54 64 42 20 2 86 268 225 1st Won Final Won Province Won Allan Cup 1954–55 54 31 19 4 66 228 180 1st Did not play off Won World 1955–56 56 25 30 1 51 - - 2nd Lost Semi Final 1956–57 54 21 30 3 45 214 289 4th Lost Semi Final 1957–58 54 16 36 2 34 220 263 4th Lost Semi Final 1958–59 54 16 36 2 34 189 267 4th Lost Semi Final 1959–60 46 5 40 1 11 190 382 4th Lost Semi Final 1960–61 21 11 10 0 - 117 105 - Folded Dec. 1

Notable alumni

James Bedard

Kevin 'Crusher' Conway

Edward Diachuk

Connie Madigan

George McAvoy

Ivan McLelland

Don Moog, father of NHL Stanley Cup champion goaltender Andy Moog

Bill Warwick

Grant Warwick