A stator for use in an electric motor is disclosed. The stator comprises an annular core, a plurality of wedges, and a plurality of wedge-retaining structures. The core includes a plurality of arcuately spaced apart teeth. Each of the teeth includes a generally radial leg and a head projecting from the leg to present a pair of arcuately spaced apart head ends. A slot opening is defined between the opposed head ends of each adjacent pair of teeth. Each of the wedges is received within a corresponding slot opening. Each wedge-retaining structure is at least in part fixed relative to the core and cooperates with a respective one of the wedges to compressibly retain the respective wedge between the head ends.