SAHIL PANWAR CAN'T WAIT TO TAKE THE LEAP INTO PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY

Sep 26, 2023

To say the last twelve months for Sahil Panwar have been a whirlwind would be an understatement. When he arrives in training camp with the Wolf Pack in early October, it will mark the start of the forward’s professional hockey career. A year ago, Panwar could have had no idea what awaited him. The journey from Peterborough to Hartford, with a stop in Hamilton, was a wild one.

“The past twelve months were fast-paced, full of challenges, but instrumental in my growth as a player,” Panwar said when asked to reflect on his whirlwind season. “With the transition from one team to another, I had to quickly adapt to new systems and align with coaches’ expectations.

“Coming into my final year in the OHL, my goal was to use this as a stepping stone to play pro hockey.”

Panwar can consider his goal met. He received an invitation to the New York Rangers’ annual development in July, an opportunity to show what he could do. He impressed during the camp, quickly earning an AHL contract with the Wolf Pack for the 2023-24 campaign that would cement Panwar’s success in chasing his goal.

“The invite to Rangers’ camp was an opportunity,” he said. “I was both mentally and physically ready to learn and prove myself. Surely, signing with Hartford at the conclusion of the camp was both exciting and rewarding. The learning and experience at the camp was also a realization of the work that lies ahead to prepare for this upcoming season.”

When talking to Panwar, it’s clear the appreciation he has for his journey. He’s someone who takes a lesson from everything, and who clearly does not let the moment pass by without taking full advantage of it.

You can feel the excitement and appreciation he has for his upcoming rookie season, too.

“I can’t wait to take this leap in my career and contribute to a winning culture with a first-class organization,” Panwar added.

Taking lessons from things is a real emphasis for Panwar. He appeared in 199 career OHL games and played for four different teams along the way. For some players, that can be a lot to handle and potentially derail their development. For Panwar, it was an asset that he believes has allowed him to reach pro hockey.

“Being able to play with four different teams enabled me to learn from a variety of coaching styles and systems,” Panwar proclaimed. “Over the years, I grew bigger and stronger, but for me, the biggest difference in my game (since starting his junior career) would be my overall confidence and ability to dictate the play with or without the puck. My game matured from being primarily offensive to me being a responsible, 200-foot player over the years.”

That kind of 200-foot game allowed Panwar to be an asset to multiple OHL teams. It’s what he hopes and believes will also make him an asset to professional teams during the course of his career. He’s more than just a 200-foot player, though. That blanket statement doesn’t fully describe the game of the 21-year-old.

“I play with high pace and intensity,” Panwar said when asked to describe his game. “My strong skating ability and hockey IQ help me be effective in all three zones of the ice. I like to drive the play and create scoring chances for my teammates and myself.

“Coming into Hartford and playing against pros, every detail matters. You can expect me to be playing both sides of the puck, being strong along the boards, and bringing a high-compete level.”

Panwar is facing a few new challenges as the summer quickly turns to fall. He’s preparing for an entirely different league, for a transition that can be difficult to master right away, and for a training camp that promises to be extremely competitive right from the start.

He’s never shied away from challenges before, however, and he is looking to embrace these challenges like he has past ones. That means learning lessons and becoming a better player.

“While camp will be highly competitive, I will be prepared to soak in every learning experience while giving it my all both on and off the ice every day,” he said. “I am a competitive and versatile player who is looking forward to having a strong camp. I plan on keeping things simple, working as hard as I can, and having fun.

“If I do those three things, I will put myself in a good position to succeed.”

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ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since the team’s inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack are the top player-development affiliate of the NHL's New York Rangers and play at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers newest faces including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.