MADISON, Wis. – As the Wisconsin men's hockey team prepares to open its season on Oct. 3 at Lindenwood, freshman forward Bruno Idžan could not be more excited to make his debut in the cardinal and white.
A native of Zagreb, Idžan is the first Croatian-born skater to play for an NCAA DI ice hockey team and the first drafted to an NHL club after his selection by the Ottawa Senators in the sixth round at No. 181 overall at the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.
The freshman split the 2024-25 season between KHL Sisak in Croatia and the USHL's Lincoln Stars, tallying 21 goals and 30 points in 19 games played for KHL Sisak before joining the Stars in mid-December. He notched 22 goals and 44 points in 36 games played for the Stars to rank fifth on the team in points despite playing at least 20 fewer games than those above him. The forward helped the Stars to a regular-season USHL championship title and he finished the season ranking second in the league among skaters who played at least two contests with 1.22 points per game. The freshman also has experience playing internationally, including skating for Team Croatia at the 2024 U20 World Championship - Division I, Group B, and helping his country to a gold medal at the 2023 U20 World Championship - Division 2, Group A.
Idžan is a high-impact forward who likes to make quick passes and score flashy goals, and his confidence and wide range of playing experience will help him shine amidst a talented Badger squad.
Why did you choose to attend Wisconsin? To you, what does it mean to be a Badger?
Wisconsin is a great hockey school with great history. When I came here for my visit, all the guys gave me good vibes and the coaching staff fit me really well in terms of what I wanted for myself and my development. The vibe of the whole campus is great, and the facilities are awesome, so it was a no-brainer. To me, being a Badger means to be connected to the whole campus, finding new friendships and new communities. I think it can open up your way of thinking in a lot of different ways.
Do you have a favorite spot in Madison?
I think the terrace is really nice. It reminds me a little bit of Europe. Growing up, I always went to the sea in the summer. It looks like a Croatian town by the sea, which I think is pretty cool, so the terrace would be my favorite spot.
What's it been like getting to know your new teammates?
All the freshmen hang out together almost every day. We have a great relationship with each other. We're a really tight group, also with the other guys in the whole locker room. They welcomed us really nicely. I think I've made the best relationships with my roommate, Vasily [Zelenov], and Blake Montgomery.
What does it mean to you to be the first Croatian-born skater to play for a DI hockey team?
I think it's pretty cool. It's a nice way of showing not just other Croatian kids, but kids from other non-hockey areas, that it's possible. It just takes a lot of dedication and hard work. You can get wherever you want to with that. I'm really proud to be Croatian, and it's great that I can represent my country in a way that nobody else has before me. It's cool to educate the other guys on Croatian culture and I feel really proud about that. Iamo Jazavci! (Go Badgers!)
Briefly describe your hockey career.
I started playing in my hometown, Zagreb, in Croatia. I moved to Slovenia when I was about 12 years old, and played there for about three years. I then made my move to Sweden, where I played at a smaller club near Stockholm for the first year. Then, I switched to a pretty big club close to Gothenburg where I stayed for two years, and after that, I came back to Croatia for half a year to play with a semi-pro team close to my hometown. After that half season, I moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, to finish the USHL season with the Stars and now I'm here.
How did your time in Lincoln prepare you for college? What was it like making the jump from a European league to the U.S.?
I think it was the best possible transition from where I played before in Croatia. It was the step I needed in between there and here. I got acclimated to the way of North American hockey, so it was a really, really good decision to go there. I'm thankful for Lincoln a lot. The biggest difference is the smaller ice sheet in America. It makes the game so much faster and more physical. I played on Olympic-sized sheets my whole life, so I was used to having a lot of space, having my puck on my stick the whole time and not having that much pressure. When I came over here, it was just pass and go, taking quick shots, quick touches with the puck – not that much holding the puck on my stick. I think that's the biggest difference.
For those who haven't seen you play, how would you describe your game?
I would say I'm a goal-scorer who likes to go to the dirty areas and who's never afraid to make a play. I'm never afraid to go in front of the net. I like to make one-touch plays, whether it's a pass or a shot – I don't like to hold the puck on my stick too long.
How did you find out that you got drafted to the Senators? What was your first NHL camp experience like?
I was watching the draft with a couple of guys in Madison over the summer. We were at [Zach] Schulz's apartment, and [Coach Todd] Knott called me. I didn't know it yet, but he was like, 'Congrats, congrats,' and I was like, 'For what?' Our TV was two minutes behind because it was stopping the whole time, so we didn't know that there had already been five picks after my name was called. I didn't know it until Knotter finished the call, then the Ottawa guys called me, and it was great. The camp was also great. It was not too long, but it was nice to get to know all the staff and other prospects. It was a good time.
What is it like to play with Logan Hensler, Blake Montgomery and Tyson Dyck, the three other Ottawa draft picks at Wisconsin?
I think it's great to play with some guys who know how the whole being drafted thing works. It makes it much easier to have people like that telling me how it all works and not having any questions. It's cool, we definitely had some bonding together at the camp. Just being drafted by the same team, I think it's been a nice thing to talk about and a way to get to know each other a little more. I think the "Wisconsens" nickname is pretty cool.
If you weren't a hockey player, what sport would you be playing?
Probably tennis or padel. I started playing padel two or three years ago when a place opened up close to my home in Croatia. I went with my friends one time, and I loved it. When I'm home, we play at least once every week. It's a pretty cool sport.
If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Not necessarily an album, but Croatian music in general. I couldn't go without it. It's a nice way of when I'm not home, to listen to my own language and remember it. I don't have a special artist or anything, I just like Croatian music. A song that me and [Blake] Montgomery like is "Italiana" by Severina. We love it, and we've been singing it for the whole summer. He actually learned almost all the words in Croatian, which is pretty cool!
Who is one famous person you'd like to have dinner with, and what restaurant would you take them to?
I would take Lionel Messi to Rare Steakhouse – I went there on my visit to Madison and loved it.
