Vees acquire veteran defenceman Landen Hilditch from Powell River
Photo: Garrett James Photography
Penticton, B.C. – The Penticton Vees Hockey Club have acquired the BCHL playing rights to 2005-born defenceman Landen Hilditch from the Powell River Kings, in exchange for future considerations.
“Landen brings experience, size, and leadership to our blueline. He has played over 100 games in this league, was the captain of his former team, and comes from a hockey family. We look forward to adding him to the fold,” said Vees’ President, General Manager, and Head Coach Fred Harbinson.
Hilditch, 19, most recently spent parts of three seasons with the West Kelowna Warriors and was named their captain at the start of the 2024-25 season. Hilditch’s playing rights were traded to the Kings on November 24th. The 6’3, 199-pound defenceman played in 18 games this season for West Kelowna and had a pair of assists. Last season, the Surrey, B.C., product played in 51 regular season games and posted three goals and 15 points. Hilditch played for the Interior Conference in the BCHL’s 2024 Top Prospects Game at the SOEC. He also has four assists in 17 career BCHL playoff games. Hilditch is committed to Rensselaer Polytech Institute (R.P.I.). in Troy, New York.
The newest Vees defenceman will be the second member of his family to play junior hockey in Penticton. Landen’s father, Todd, was a defenceman and played two seasons for the Penticton Knights from 1986-1988. Todd was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the eighth round of the 1988 NHL Draft, and went onto play four seasons at R.P.I.
Hilditch is currently sidelined with an upper-body injury that will keep him out of the lineup until February.
Up Next: The Vees (19-6-0-0) return home to the SOEC to face the Sherwood Park Crusaders (15-9-0-0) on Friday, December 6th, at 7:00 pm. It’s the Vees Bannister Chevrolet Teddy & Toque Toss in support of the Salvation Army Penticton Community Food Bank and Shop of Wonders.