Bruno Idžan has made history as the first Croatian-born player to be selected in the NHL Draft. The 19-year-old forward was picked by the Ottawa Senators in the sixth round, 181st overall, at the 2025 NHL Draft.
Idžan recently completed his first season in North America, playing for the Lincoln Stars in the USHL. He put up an impressive 22 goals and 22 assists in just 36 games. Known for his excellent technical skills, tight puck control, and creativity in the offensive zone, Idžan is a dynamic forward who can break open plays and generate chances.
He’s committed to the University of Wisconsin for the upcoming season, where he’s expected to play a significant role for the Badgers as he continues his development.
If he reaches the NHL, Idžan will become only the second Croatian-born player to play in the league, joining Borna Rendulić, who had stints with the Colorado Avalanche and Vancouver Canucks.
While Idžan is the first Croatian-born player to be drafted, the NHL has seen several players of Croatian heritage succeed over the years, including Hall of Famer and two-time Stanley Cup champion Joe Šakić, brothers Frank and Pete Mahovlich, and current players like Marc-Édouard Vlašić, his cousin Alex Vlašić and Bo Horvat.
Idžan’s draft selection marks a milestone for Croatian hockey and signals growing potential in the region.
Anyone watch Canada lose to Guatemala? Sigur started in midfield apparently…
Just reading articles now.
Seems like he is being criticized for his poor play.
Oh well. That’s life.
Canada needs to hope that Davies comes back to full form next summer, or they will have another embarrassing tournament.
Sigur’s been good. Yesterday no so much. Whole team played like shit yesterday.
Also, per
Dobberprospects.com/2020/05/16/nhl-draft-pick-probabilities/amp/
Based on 2020 data – looking back 10 years – and including players w >99 games played
8% of NHL players drafted in 6th round
15% probability of >99 games in NHL if drafted in 6th round
Re the stupid 30+ min weather delays for lightning etc (like in the Chelsea match today)
Would that carry-over to the WC next summer?
So dumb – players get cold – fans pissed not knowing how long etc
So dumb (if it’s pouring rain fine I guess, like baseball, but not bc lightning 30 miles away (and then never comes))
Actually
Last year’s San Jose #1 pick overall Macklin Celebrini is of Croatian-decent
Grandfather Anton Celebrini from Porat, Krk
***.dignitymemorial.com/en-ca/obituaries/burnaby-bc/anthony-celebrini-4356300
Not sure maternal side
“Croatian-born”
There are many diaspora Croats that were drafted in the NHL (and a few Croatian-born ones who played in the NHL), but this is the first “Croatian-born” player that was actually drafted and not just signed from a pro team in Europe.
Yup – Anonymous gets that
Just expanded the topic to Croatian descents while we’re on the NHL topic😊
Seems like Celebrini would be ethnically Italian? Cool fact, though.
Either that, or they are ethnically Croats who were forced to change their last name like Lidija Bastianich (whose maiden name was ‘Motika’ but it was Italianized at the time).
There is a LONG list of Croatian-decent players
It’s dozens of players (Tony Hrkac, Kordic brothers, Willie Mitchell (maternal), etc.)
Here’s a forum/link where it was discussed from the last 15 years (maybe someone can find something more up to date)
forums.hfboards.com/threads/nhl-players-of-yugoslavian-descent.671228/page-8
Awesome stuff!!