After completing the best regular season for an expansion team in CHL history, the Penticton Vees are making an equally impressive playoff run.
The Vees finished off a 4-2 series victory over the Prince George Cougars in the second round of the WHL playoffs with a 3-2 overtime victory on the road Sunday.
New York Islanders prospect Jacob Kvasnicka, the lone NHL draft pick on the team, scored the overtime winner for the Vees. It was Kvasnicka’s team-leading seventh goal of the playoffs.
Goalie Andrew Reyelts made 40 saves for the Vees, who trailed 2-0 in Game 2 after two periods and faced the same 2-0 deficit in the series.
The win sends the Vees to the Western Conference final, where they will face the league-leading Everett Silvertips. The Medicine Hat Tigers meet the Prince Albert Raiders in the Eastern Conference final.
Penticton jumped to the WHL from the BCHL after being one of the best franchises in the junior-A league in recent years.
General manager/coach Fred Harbinson stayed in his role after the team switched leagues, and has guided the Vees to unprecedented success.
Using an older roster, the Vees finished second in the Western Conference this year with a record of 44-14-6-4.
The 1982-83 Longueuil Chevaliers, coached by Hockey Hall of Famer Jacques Lemaire, set the previous wins record for a CHL expansion team with 37 in the QMJHL.
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