Release from 30.06.2025

Bruno Idžan is the first Croatian to be drafted in the NHL draft

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19-year-old Bruno Idžan was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the NHL draft. The native of Zagreb is the first Croatian ever to be drafted in the NHL. Last season, the forward was playing for KHL Sisak in the Alps Hockey League before moving to the Lincoln Stars in the USHL during the season.

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Bruno Idžan played a total of 19 times for AHL newcomer Sisak last season. The youngster impressed with 21 goals and 9 assists. Despite only playing 19 games, he ended up being Sisak's second-best goal scorer and the 15th-best goal scorer in the entire league. Idžan scored a hat-trick in two matches - against Zell am See and Kitzbühel. In total, he only failed to score a goal in five of his 19 games.

The Croatian's strong performances attracted attention in North America, which is why he made the leap to the USHL's Lincoln Stars in November. There, too, Idžan impressed straight away: in 42 games, he contributed 25 goals and 22 assists.

Now the 19-year-old has even been picked by the Ottawa Senators in the 6th round of the NHL draft - a historic moment for Croatian hockey, as never before has a Croatian been selected in the NHL draft.