The Penticton Vees will have home-ice advantage through the 2025 BCHL playoffs after they cruised past the Cranbrook Bucks 5-2 and captured the league's regular-season championship at the South Okanagan Events Centre on Friday night (March 28).

Eli McKamey scored twice and Luke Posthumus had three points to help the Vees secure the Ron Boileau Memorial Trophy. Matthew Biotti added a pair of assists.

Penticton (41-7-5-0) also won its 13th consecutive Interior Conference regular-season pennant. Tabbed as the conference's No. 1 seed ahead of the BCHL playoffs next week, the Vees have won seven games in a row.

Will Ingemann was credited with Friday's win after making 19 saves. Ethan Buenaventura also saw time in the Vees' crease, stopping 4 shots in just under 10 minutes.

Jacob Fletcher and Bryce Sookro scored for Cranbrook (29-22-2-0), which will finish the regular season as the Interior Conference's No. 6 seed. Jaden Cholette made 31 saves.

After Cranbrook opened the scoring 36 seconds in the first period, Posthumus responded for Penticton two minutes later with his 25th marker of the season.

Max Heise gave the Vees a 2-1 lead at 10:55 of the opening frame, scoring his team-leading 27th goal of the season.

The Bucks notched a power-play marker early in the middle frame to tie it at 2-2 before the Vees scored three consecutive goals to make it 5-2. Montreal Canadiens draft pick Ben Merrill scored Penticton's fifth and final goal of the night.

Game notes

McKamey, a 16-year-old rookie, has four goals in his last five games.

With an assist on Friday, Vees forward Ryden Evers had 10 points in his last three games.

Penticton improved its home record to 20-1-5-0.

Up next

The Vees wrap up the 2024-2025 regular season on Saturday night, as they host the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.

Puck drop is at 6 p.m.