Lou Nanne, voice of Minnesota high school hockey tournament, inducted into Broadcasters Hall of Fame
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The voice of the Boys High School Hockey Tournament for decades will be inducted into the Minnesota Broadcasters Hall of Fame on Tuesday night.
It’s not Lou Nanne’s first Hall of Fame induction.
The retired North Star All-Star defenseman, Golden Gopher, U.S. Olympic team captain and president of the NHL Players Association is a member of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame and International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame. But he was tickled and thrilled when he got the call about the broadcasting honor.
Nanne’s broadcast career began back in the fall of 1963 at a small radio station in St. Louis Park. In 1964, he got a call from Channel 11 that changed his career. Tasked with “doing the color on the state high school tournament,” Lou dipped his toes into television under the mentorship of pitchman Mel Jass.
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Ahead of Tuesday’s ceremony, Nanne joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer from his Florida home via Zoom to reflect on his 60 years behind the microphone.
The following has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Can you recall the first time you were on the air?
Yes, I can. It was in the fall of 1963, and high school hockey was being played. A small station in St. Louis Park — I don't remember the call letters — asked me if I would do the high school games there. And I said sure. And then in February of ‘64, I got a call from Channel 11. They asked me to come down to the studio, and then asked if I would be interested in doing the color on the State High School tournament. And I said, “Yes, I’ve never done TV.” So they had me go downstairs to meet Mel Jass. Well, I went down and he gave me some tips, and that was the beginning of it.
You were playing hockey when your broadcast career began. Was it tough to juggle both jobs?
At that time, I was in a contract dispute with the Chicago Blackhawks, and so I didn’t report to training camp. I was playing hockey on the weekend for the Rochester Mustangs. You’d make some money, but nothing like the NHL. So when it came to the tournament, I just took the weekend off, said I’m going to be doing a State High School tournament, and that’s what continued to be my modus operandi for years to come.
What were the takeaways from doing those first broadcasts? Did you feel pretty comfortable?
No. Funny you said that, because that’s one of the things that I think Mel helped me the best when he said, “You just pretend you're sitting in your living room talking to someone across from you.” I said, “I see a red light, but I don’t see anybody giving me any reaction to my talk.” But I was getting used to it. In fact, in ‘65, I think I might have been the first person to ever use a wireless mic. I rode around in a Zamboni.
In those days, too, it wasn’t just doing the color on TV. I did all the interviews in between periods. I did the pre-game, I did the post-game show and I had to go up and down. I think there were like 57 stairs or more before every game and between every period.
What’s the secret to doing good hockey color commentary?
I get upset when I watch some telecasts of some hockey games, because I feel the announcers try to get too technical, and they start using technical terms. And I always say, you have to explain the game so people that never played the game understand the game, because some of those people are watching this game. And don’t try and show that you have great intelligence; try and make it understandable for everybody that’s watching. Try and get them to see the picture that you're painting and understand what’s taking place on the ice.
What was the longest game that went into like a zillion overtimes?
It was Apple Valley and Duluth East, and it was five overtimes. I also did the NCAA Championship between Duluth and Bowling Green. That was four overtimes.
That Apple Valley and Duluth East matchup was one of the most entertaining games at any level I’d ever seen, because when we got to overtime, these kids just played with reckless abandon. There was no defense. Those two goaltenders were just absolutely phenomenal, and they made so many great saves because there were so many wide-open chances. It didn’t seem like anybody wanted to lose.
What was the great joy in doing those high school tournaments?
Every year is different. It’s the enthusiasm for the kids, to start out with. It’s the electricity in the building with the crowds. Everybody’s so passionate about it, and it's the kind of intensity those kids play with. It’s both joyous and heartbreaking at the same time. And it’s like going to see a different movie every day, and I love movies, and it’s just something that you never get tired of.
I still enjoy watching the games on TV, but I don’t have the same feeling, because I get into the game myself. I get so emotional about the way these kids are playing.
I don’t care who wins or loses — except when my kids were playing. I had the good fortune of having my son play and his two sons play in the state tournament. I like to see the best team win, usually, because I think that if you’ve had the best season and you’re the best team, it’s worthwhile to see them win. But I like upsets, too. I like the game, and I just get joy out of watching it.
Would you agree that the tournaments are a connector for the state of Minnesota?
It certainly is. In fact, it’s not only a connector at that time, but it keeps people connected over the years. And even now, at every state tournament there’s usually a team celebrating a 25-year win championship, or a 50-year championship, and before games, I go down and visit with some of them.
It’s amazing how these people all stay together. It’s connected so many people’s lives forever. It’s something that’s just a great byproduct of that tournament.
