In the “never say never” category put this down: Lou Nanne, 82, might not have worked his last State High School Boys Hockey Tournament on local TV.
Multitudes assume Nanne retired last night after 60 years of providing entertaining tournament commentary as viewers watched Edina win the Class 2A championship against Chanhassen. Except in 10 years or so, a great grandchild, or two or three, could be playing in the tournament and that could mean a comeback to the microphone.
“If they make it, I’ll come back and make a guest appearance,” Nanne told Sports Headliners.
And Dave Stead believes the man known as the Godfather of Minnesota hockey would be greeted with open arms. “That would be great, and I think that he’d be welcomed to make that comeback,” said Stead who was the Minnesota State High School League’s executive director for 32 years.
Now retired, Stead plans to suggest the MSHL invite Nanne back to next year’s tournament and those that follow. Encouraging the former Golden Gopher, Olympian and North Star to be in the press box and visible at the tournament is a winning idea. His name is synonymous with hockey including on the high school level where he has been an advocate for the ages.
“Minnesota hockey is fantastic and with Lou involved it just elevated it to a different level,” said Stead. “When you heard the voice, you knew exactly what was happening at the hockey tournament.”
When family members played in the tournament for Edina High School, they created special memories during Nanne’s 60 years behind a microphone. Son Marty scored the winning goal in the title game and years later his sons, Louie and Tyler, won championships. “Those are the favorites (tourney memories),” Nanne said.
Nanne is a senior managing director for RBC, working with companies and labor unions. He isn’t retiring from his position with the diversified financial services company, nor is he giving up his weekly guest appearances on KFAN Radio with drive time host Dan Barreiro, and he will continue into next season doing TV color work on a select number of Wild games.
Nanne won a battle with prostate cancer over 40 years ago. He goes to the gym multiple times per week, eats “what I want,” and is pleased with his health. “I got a great report from the Mayo (Clinic) last year. Every year I go. Been going every year since ’87.”
So why retire from the state tournament gig? “I just think it’s time to move on. Sixty is a nice round number.”
Asked several days ago what he anticipated his thoughts would be as he left the Xcel Energy Center last night, Nanne said: “Well, I feel sad that it’s over, but I am also happy that it’s over. I think it’s the right time to do it. I am going to treasure the moments that I had and think about all the good memories I had but know that it’s time to move on.”
Nanne was emotional last night as the crowd and even players paid tribute to his remarkable career including 60 years of analyzing tournament games. It was a retirement scene that Hollywood might have scripted.
Yes, change happens to everyone, even Nanne who for nearly 25 years was the face of the North Stars franchise as a player, coach, GM and president. Ironically, the man who grew up in Canada and lived most of his adult life in Minnesota never did like ice and cold. He has become a Florida resident while spending many days in Minnesota and Wisconsin where the family has a lake home.
Lou Nanne doesn’t make many changes but when the time is right, he pulls the trigger, even taking up residence in sunny Florida.
Worth Noting
It could be one of two veteran right handers, either Seth Lugo or Michael Wacha, who will be the Royals’ opening day pitcher March 28 in Kansas City. If so, left-handed hitting first baseman Alex Kirilloff is likely in the Twins’ lineup, with probably newly acquired switch hitting free agent Carlos Santana filling the DH spot.
Other probable Twins starters are left fielder Matt Wallner, center fielder Byron Buxton, right fielder Max Kepler, third baseman Royce Lewis, shortstop Carlos Correa, second baseman Eduardo Julien, catcher Ryan Jeffers and pitcher Pablo Lopez.
Do-Hyoung Park wrote a few days ago on MLB.com that Julien, who grew up speaking French in Quebec and went off to college at Auburn not knowing English, has become a popular player with teammates in his second season with the Twins.
If North St. Paul’s Louie Varland makes the Twins roster, he would be the third native Minnesotan on the 2024 roster along with Wallner and pitcher Caleb Thielbar. He could also be the St. Paul Saints opening day starting pitcher.
Renovations to Xcel Energy Center remain a priority for the Wild with word that St. Paul mayor Melvin Carter is supportive.
The International Hockey Federation World Junior Hockey Championship will stage games in December of 2025 and January of 2026 at 3M Arena at Mariucci and Xcel Energy Center. The event has been wildly popular on Canadian TV for years, annually drawing millions of viewers.
While the University of Minnesota basketball team has no certain NBA prospects, guard Cam Christie, a candidate for Freshman of the Year in the Big Ten, could inquire this spring if pro teams project him as draft worthy. The smooth shooting guard, who is remindful of U All-American and former first round draft pick Lou Hudson, has the potential to improve his draft status next season.
Among regulars in the crowd at Williams Arena for Gophers games is former MLB umpire Tim Tschida, the St. Paul native.
The March issue of Sports Illustrated, writing about fragile coaching security in the NFL, points out there is not one offensive coordinator in the league who was with the same team in 2021.
Legendary Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz and former Gophers defensive coordinator Jay Sawvel, now head coach at Wyoming, will speak at next month’s Minnesota Football Coaches Association Clinic. Speakers also include Gophers’ head coach P.J. Fleck and his assistants. The April 4-6 clinic is held at the DoubleTree in St. Louis Park and on the U campus.