05/05/2026
BC Ball Hockey extends our sincerest condolences on the passing of one of our great friends. Whit was an excellent ambassador of our great sport and his passion for ball hockey and life was contagious.
We are thankful for the memories and believe that those in our community will carry on Whit’s legacy for years to come.
Whit will be deeply missed and fondly remembered. We hope his family and friends find peace in this difficult time.
Thank you, Whit ❤️
It is with a heavy heart that we share this message with our KBHL community. On Sunday Morning, our beloved League Coordinator, Whit Penner, passed peacefully away after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Whit was an incredible person; he was easy to talk to, kind, and always carried a genuinely positive attitude despite the daily challenges he faced. His strength and very positive outlook left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him. Whit truly loved the sport of ball hockey and the league he helped build. He took immense pride in ensuring it was organized, ran smoothly, and maintained at the highest standard. His dedication was unmatched, even as he continued to manage league operations from his hospital bed to ensure everything was ready for this season. He worked tirelessly up until his final days. Above all, Whit remained committed to ensuring that the league he built would remain strong and continue to thrive.
In honour of Whit and his extraordinary contributions, we will rename our League Championship Trophy the Whit Penner Cup, ensuring his legacy lives on in both Kelowna and Vernon for years to come.
On a personal note, we at KBHL will miss Whit greatly. He was not only a dedicated leader but also a true friend. We will always remember his unwavering positivity throughout his battle; he faced it with courage and grace, never letting it define his spirit. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and everyone whose lives he touched.
