Above Photo: Oscar Pantzare’s name bar as seen during warm ups (Photo: Kyle Robinson)
Victoria, BC ~ 7,527 kilometres lie between Victoria, British Columbia, Canada and Stockholm, Sweden. While that distance may seem like an unbelievably far way to go for a game, Oscar Pantzare has always had it in his mind that North America is where the next step in his hockey journey would need to be.
When the Victoria Grizzlies announced the signing of a Swedish defenseman named Oscar Pantzare on September 18, 2024 there was little known about the 20 year old outside of Victoria apart from the fact that he had scored 17 goals the year prior for Frolunda HC U20. That mark was good enough to lead all defenders in the Swedish U20 league. Excitement level was certainly real for the Grizzlies franchise to see what this heavy shooter could do.
When Oscar was just 16 years old, he moved five hours from home to join a hockey academy called IFK Taby HC. For those that don’t know, in Sweden junior hockey works like this: all professional teams have academy teams underneath them (much like European soccer). They range from U16 up until U20 when players as 20 year olds move on to play in one of the many levels of professional hockey in Europe. These Academy teams and leagues are referred to as “junior”. Oscar is a prime example of a young man who went all through those ranks.
“I was forced to grow a lot,” said Oscar, “I was 16 and had my own apartment. I had to cook all my meals and really look after myself. I had to become an adult when I was 16.” After two years at IFK Taby, one of the most prestigious European hockey institutes came calling, Frolunda HC. In 2020-21 Oscar would answer their call and join Frolunda’s U18 program where he would stay until graduating from their U20 team as an alternate captain. That last year in U20 for Frolunda was one where Oscar exploded for 17 goals as previously mentioned. For perspective he had two markers the year prior.
“In my last year of juniors I was just relaxed,” Patzare commented when asked about what went right that year, “I was then given offers to play pro. I knew I wanted to go to college, North America is the place to be. Hockey is everything here and this is where things happen.”
After a summer with lots of time to think, Oscar decided to head out to North America and leave behind the life in Sweden he had built. His first stop was in Sioux City of the USHL who had chosen him in the 2024 USHL Draft. “I feel like I was never able to really showcase myself in Sioux City. I wasn’t on my game, I was still adjusting,” he said about his time in the USHL pre-season play. While trying to adjust to the North American culture and game, he was released from Sioux City and joined the Bismarck Bobcats of the NAHL for the remainder of their exhibition schedule and that’s when he got the call from Victoria.
“Rylan called me and told me about Victoria and how beautiful the city is and how they would love to have me,” quoted Pantzare. Oscar decided it was time to now add Canada to his list of countries to have played in and joined the Grizzlies immediately where he has stuck since as an important part of their back end this season.
The different kind of game is certainly not hard to see, but being in the battle on a nightly basis while trying to change the way you grew up playing certainly can’t be easy and that is exactly what Oscar has had to do. “The rinks are much smaller, players are faster and come quicker, players are more physical and heavier and lastly the speed and tempo of the game is much higher.” That is quite a lot of things to try and adjust to while also perfecting a new language and getting over the culture shock of moving from Stockholm to Victoria.
“I think it has been a really good change,” he added when asked about the differences in culture and lifestyle around hockey. “Living with a family and teammates and getting family cooked meals is really nice. We spend so much more time together off the ice here than back home. I like it.” That time together seems to have paid off both on and off the ice for Oscar who has now recorded two goals and eight points for the Grizzlies from the backend while quarterbacking the second power play unit. “When I first got here, it was hard to hold a normal conversation. My teammates couldn’t really see who I was. I was just trying to make sense but everyone has been so helpful and friendly especially when I first arrived. Everyone shook my hand and introduced themselves.”
Oscar may have made himself as popular as possible himself, by getting into a memorable one sided fight on opening night at the Q Centre against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. “It’s pretty fun, I have fought a couple of times. I have never been afraid because I used to box with my dad growing up,” said Oscar when asked about his willingness to get involved. “I would be an MMA fighter if I wasn’t playing hockey.”
That team rowdying play has made him a popular guy in the dressing room for a squad that prides itself on being closer than anything else in the room. “Our team gets closer everyday,” he said, “We take care of each other and we aren’t individuals.”
It certainly would appear that way for Oscar and his team who continue to push towards the top dogs of the Coastal Conference heading into the Christmas break. “This league is so strong,” he would close with, “I didn’t know about it two years ago but now I think it is such a good pathway to go.”
The Grizzlies are glad to have their first Swedish defenseman in franchise history and they hope to see more of Oscar down the stretch.
You can watch parts of this exclusive interview by clicking here.
