Wisconsin Badgers head coach Mike Hastings secured a major commitment for the men’s hockey team on Monday, as Croatia-born forward Bruno Idžan announced via Instagram that he will be joining the University of Wisconsin.
Idžan has proven to be a potent offensive player, tallying 29 points in 21 games with the USHL’s Lincoln Stars since joining the team in December. His 13 goals and 16 assists rank him eighth on the roster, though he has played at least 20 fewer games than the players ahead of him.
Before his time with Lincoln, Idžan played for KHL Sisak, a Croatian professional team in both the Croatian Ice Hockey League and Alps Hockey League. In 19 games, he scored 21 goals before making the jump to the USHL.
Standing at 6-foot-1 and nearly 200 pounds, Idžan is known for his ability to find the puck and excel in tight spaces, which will be valuable for a Wisconsin team that has often outshot opponents but struggled to convert those chances. His physical presence should help the Badgers capitalize on rebounds and score gritty goals.
Coach Hastings and his staff quickly took an interest in the 19-year-old Zagreb native after he arrived in Lincoln. Idžan mentioned that Wisconsin reached out after his first 10 games, leading to a campus visit where he was impressed by the tradition, history, and hockey facilities in Madison.
Idžan is an exciting prospect for a Badger team that enjoyed a brief resurgence last year but has faced offensive difficulties this season, ranking near the bottom of the B1G. Wisconsin currently ranks 27th nationally in goals per game (2.97), placing them second-to-last in the conference. The team hopes Idžan can provide a boost to address their offensive struggles, particularly in generating timely goals.
While the unpredictability of college rosters in the NIL era makes future lineups difficult to predict, the potential combination of Quinn Finley, Gavin Morrissey, and Bruno Idžan is promising. Finley and Morrissey have been two of Wisconsin’s standout young players this season, leading a youth movement.
Regardless of how the lines form, Idžan’s addition is expected to make an immediate impact next season. The team still has the upcoming transfer window to further shape the roster, but this commitment is a significant step forward for the Badgers.
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