The Prince George Cougars will face the expansion Penticton Vees in the second round of the 2026 WHL Playoffs, having defeated the Spokane Chiefs in a thrilling six-game series. The Vees advanced after a solid five-game series win against the Seattle Thunderbirds. The best-of-seven series kicks off at Penticton's South Okanagan Events Centre on April 10 and 11, before moving to the CN Centre in Prince George for Games 3 and 4 on April 14 and 15. During the regular season, Penticton dominated the Cougars, winning five of six matchups, although Prince George secured a critical overtime victory in their last encounter.

By the Numbers
  • Penticton won the regular season series 5-0-1-0 against Prince George.
  • In the season series, Vees' Ryden Evers and Jacob Kvasnicka both accumulated 9 points, while Cougars' Brock Souch had 6 points.
  • Penticton goalies have combined for a 1.33 goals-against average and .957 save percentage.
State of Play
  • The Cougars are looking to build momentum after a strong first-round performance.
  • Penticton enters the series as a top contender, showcasing impressive offensive talent in the playoffs.
What's Next

The series is set to begin on April 10, which will be crucial for both teams as they vie for a spot in the championship round. Game outcomes will heavily rely on the goaltending performance and power play efficiency from both sides.

Bottom Line

As both teams prepare for this playoff clash, key players' performances will determine the series outcome, and the Cougars will need to leverage their last victory over Penticton to challenge the Vees effectively.