The Penticton Vees' first Western Hockey League draft is in the books.
A total of 18 players were selected by the league's newest expansion team, following the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft and U.S. Priority Draft.
Penticton's first pick, defenceman Thor Liffiton, was made in front of hundreds of its fans during a WHL launch party on May 7.
“Thor is a player that we feel has kept improving since the beginning of the season," said Adam Sergerie, the Vees' director of scouting. "His game has taken huge strides, and we felt like he had one of the highest ceilings in the draft."
The rest of the Vees' inaugural draft class was logged on May 8, where they started by taking forward Peter Banicevic of the Delta Hockey Academy in the third round of the WHL Prospects Draft (47th overall).
“We are excited about this draft class," said Sergerie.
The Vees saw "great value" in taking Banicevic with their third-round pick, Sergerie added. The Burnaby-born forward recorded 68 points in 36 games at the Delta Hockey Academy this past season.
"As we got later into the draft, rounds seven, eight, nine, we identified good players that we didn’t think would be still available, so we made moves to acquire picks and took them," Sergerie said. "We added good value to the organization."
See below for the Vees' full 2025 draft class:
WHL U.S. Priority Draft
• Round 1, 4th overall: Carter Morris, forward (Anchorage, AK)
• Round 2, 27th overall: Parker Deraney, defenceman (Detroit Lakes, MN)
WHL Prospects Draft
• Round 1, 4th overall: Thor Liffiton, defenceman (Calgary)
• Round 3, 47th overall: Peter Banicevic, forward (Burnaby)
• Round 5, 96th overall: Jack Utsunomiya, goaltender (Delta)
• Round 6, 116th overall: Nash Weyland, defenceman (Strathcona, Alta.)
• Round 7, 139th overall: Talon Scinocca, forward (Brandon)
• Round 7, 141st overall: Jace Guevarra, defenceman (Winnipeg)
• Round 7, 144th overall: Dawon Baht, forward (Martensville, Sask.)
• Round 8, 162nd overall: Landon Knott, defenceman (Bemidji, MN)
• Round 8, 164th overall: Gage Mark, forward (Kelowna)
• Round 9, 185th overall: Owen LaCoste, forward (Chandler, AZ)
• Round 10, 208th overall: Owen Conrad, defenceman (Winnipeg)
• Round 11, 231st overall: Gavin Hildebrand, goaltender (Morden, Man.)
• Round 12, 254th overall: Zach Mielke, defenceman (Maple Grove, MN)
• Round 13, 277th overall: Mateo Zappitelli, defenceman (Winnipeg)
• Round 14, 300th overall: Kaius Millan, forward (Lake Country)
• Round 15, 323rd overall: Shea Mooney, defenceman (Victoria)
