Lou Nanne has one of the most solid careers of any American involved in the game of ice hockey. In addition to his All-Star player status with the North Stars, he has been actively involved in the game as an administrator. Nanne served as the team's General Manager from 1978-88, was a member of the International Committee for USA Hockey since 1988, and held various roles such as Vice President of the NHL Players Association, member of the NHL Board of Governors, and as a player, coach, GM, and president of the North Stars.

Nanne's early hockey journey included playing Junior hockey with Hall of Famer's Phil and Tony Esposito. He then became a member of the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers hockey team from 1959-63, under Coach John Mariucci. In 1963, he earned All-American honors and was named the WCHA Most Valuable Player.

Post graduating from the U of M, Nanne was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks. However, following a contract dispute, he opted to play for the Rochester Mustangs of the USHL while pursuing business interests in Twin Cities. His leadership skills were recognized when he served as the captain of the U.S. Olympic Team in 1968, was the general manager of the U.S. national team for the 1981, 1984, and 1987 Canada Cup tournaments, and continued his involvement in the 1994 World Championship.

After the 1968 Olympics, Nanne joined his hometown expansion North Stars where he emerged as the team's first star. He had an 11-year NHL career with the North Stars, during which he tallied 72 goals and 167 assists for 239 points. His role later evolved into one of the league's knowledgeable GM's, running the team until 1990.

Throughout his career, Nanne received several awards and honors. He was named to the 50 Year WCHA All-Star team, and awarded the Lester Patrick Award in 1989 for his outstanding service to hockey in the United States. He was also inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1998 and the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame in 2004. Additionally, he received the Regional Emmy Sports Broadcast award in 2009 and 2010, and was inducted into the Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame in 2023 and awarded the Minnesota Sports and Events MN Champions Award in the same year.

Currently, Nanne holds the position of Managing Director at RBC Global Asset Management and has been a weekly radio show host on KSTP 1500 AM since 2011. He has been a TV color commentator for the Minnesota State High School Boys Hockey tournament since 1964, completing 60 years in 2024. Additionally, he has been a rotating color commentator for Minnesota Wild broadcasts on Bally Sports North since 2019. His multifaceted career, thus, not only makes him synonymous with the game of hockey in Minnesota but also displays his diverse expertise.

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