The City of Penticton is a relatively small town located in the B.C. interior at the southern part of the Okanagan Valley. The area is known as the Canadian desert the valley of the fruits and where the wine industry is prominent. It also boasts a rich hockey heritage that hardcore western hockey fans know well. When Pentictonites think of their junior hockey team in the present its the Vees. However when they think of the great legacy of hockey in Penticton its the Vs. Through the past 55 years the players who have donned the various Penticton hockey jerseys have been as unique as the name itself which came from a housewife who thought the teams name should be symbolic of the city and what it is most known for: peaches from the Vedette Valiant and Veteran came the simple V which has brought so much pride to the city. After joining the Okanagan Senior Hockey League in 1951 it didnt take long for the Vs to find success. An Allan Cup title came in 54 followed by a world championship in 55 with a decisive 5-0 shutout against the Soviet Union in Krefeld West Germany. After the defeat the Russian coach was quoted the next day as saying You tell those Canadians that our team will never be shutout again. It was a national disgrace for them and the birth of the hockey rivalry between Canada and Russia.

The offered circa 1955 sweater is attributed to Penticon Vees player Jack McDonald based on an accompanying copy of a letter of authenticity from longtime NHL referee Lloyd Gilmour to whom it used to belong. The wool sweater features a heavy felt P on the chest with three staggered felt Vs. A thick felt number 7 appears on back. The laced collar opening is missing the laces. The condition of the sweater overall is incredible showing enormous game use including numerous crude vintage team repairs and several unrepaired holes. The army green and pumpkin orange color of the jersey was curiously altered from its original green and white. It is believed that the Vees wanted to distinguish themselves from other teams with jerseys of similar color including the Toronto Saint Pats and the red and white of the Russians. The Penticton Vees decided to distinguish themselves by soaking their jerseys in a sink in their dressing room with the substance called tentra benzoid also known as tuf-skin. The gassy smelling material which players used to tape or paint on their ankles before they taped them to keep from pulling their hair out discolored the jersey to its present state.

Includes a copy of a signed Letter of Authenticity from longtime NHL referee Lloyd Gilmour and a Letter of Provenance from the Newport Sports Museum Collection.