LOU NANNE
Game 168 | February 21, 1969 | Lou Nanne
It was the first of many Dunkers appearances for Lou Nanne, the hockey player/coach/executive/author who would become Head Coach of the Dunkers in 1993. A standout on Gopher teams of the early 1960s, Nanne made his North Stars debut in 1968 after playing in the 1968 Winter Olympics. A defenseman, he played in 635 games for the North Stars over a 10-year period.
Game 211 | July 21, 1972 | Lou Nanne, Phil Esposito
Nanne and Esposito grew up together in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. "Espo" played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Black Hawks, Boston Bruin' and New York Rangers. He was a first-team All-Star from 1969-1974. Playing on a line with Ken Hodge and Fred Stanfleld, with Bobby Orr on defense, Esposito led the Bruins to Stanley Cup victories in 1970 and 1972. A popular Boston bumper sticker of the time said, "Jesus saves, Esposito scores on the rebound."
Game 261 | February 21, 1978 | Lou Nanne
The fortunes of the Minnesota North Stars improved significantly after the off-season merger of the North Stars and the Cleveland Barons. The recently retired Nanne was named General Manager, and a number of ex-Barons including Gilles Meloche, Al MacAdam and Mike Fidler, added experience. In addition, the team added first draft choice Bobby Smith, who would go on to win the Calder Trophy as the best rookie in the National Hockey League that season.
Game 281 | October 9, 1980 | Lou Nanne, Paul Smymr, Al MacAdam
The Minnesota North Stars continued to improve in 1980-81, finishing with a 35-28-17 record. MacAdam was third in scoring behind Bobby Smith and Tim Young, and Shmyr, a 34-year-old veteran, anchored a much-improved defense. That team made it all the way to the Stanley Cup finals, losing in five games to the New York Islanders.
Game 292 | October 27.1981 | Lou Nanne, Tim Young
Dino Ciccarelli scored a franchise-record 55 goals in just his second season, and the North Stars won their first divisional title in 1981-82. The team lost to the Chicago Black hawks in the first round of the playoffs. Young, a 26-year-old forward, finished l0th in scoring on a strong offensive team behind Bobby Smith, Ciccarelli, Neal Broten, Steve Payne, Craig Hartsburg, AI MacAdam, Steve Christoff, Brad Palmer and Tom McCarthy.
Game 322 | February 5, 1985 | Lou Nanne, Glen Sonmor, Tony McKegney
Coming off a trip to the Stanley Cup finals the year before, the North Stars had high expectations in the 1984-'85 season. The team slipped badly, posting a 25-43-12 record. McKegney, the first Canadian-born black player to make an impact in the NHL, scored 24 points in his first year with the North Stars. Sonmor; a close friend of General Manager Nanne, returned briefly to coach part of the 1984-'85 season.
Game 329 | October 31, 1985 | Lorne Henning, Lou Nanne
After spending nine years as a defenseman with the New York Islanders, Henning got a chance to be head coach of the Islanders and the Minnesota North Stars. He took over from Bill Mahoney, and his 1985 team, led by Neal Broten and Dino Ciccarelli, finished just one point behind Chicago in the Norris Division and lost to St. Louis in the first round of the playoffs.
Game 340 | October 7, 1986 | Frantisek Musil, Lou Nanne
Scouts at the 1986 World Hockey Championships in Moscow hailed Musil. a four-year veteran of the Czechoslovakian National Team, as the top defenseman in the competition., Shortly after those game, Nanne, the North Star General Manager, bought a ticket to visit Musil, the team's third draft choice in 1983. Musil joined the team in 1986 and played the next five years in Minnesota as part of an NHL career that lasted 15 years.
Game 355 | February 18, 1988 | Lou Nanne
In 1988 George and Gordon Gund named Nanne President of the North Stars. The team finished last in the Norris Division that season with a record of 19-48-13. Dino Ciccarelli and Brian Bellows led the team in scoring, while Don Beaupre and Kari Takko shared the goaltending duties.
Game 365 | December 13, 1988 | Lou Nanne
One of Nanne's greatest contributions to the Minnesota North Stars came in 1988 when he drafted Mike Modano, a 17-year-old American, with the very first pick in that year's draft. The North Stars finished third in the Norris Division in 1988-89 and lost to St. Louis in the first round of the playoffs. Dave Gagner and Neal Broten were the team's leading scorers, and John Casey played a majority of the games in the nets.
Game 844 | May 21. 2015 | Lou Nanne, Murray Williamson, Doc Nagobads, John Harrington, Joe Schmit
The four speakers reminisced about the growth and development of hockey in Minnesota and the contributions of Minnesotans to U.S. Olympic teams over the yea1'S. Topics ranged from John Mariucci to Herb Brooks and the 1980 Olympic Gold Medal team. Nanne, a Gopher legend, played for and was the coach and general manager of the Minnesota North Stars. Williamson, a Gopher All American, coached the U.S. National teams in the World Championships in 1967, 1969 and 1971, and coached the U.S. Olympic team in 1968 and 1972. Doc Nagobads, age 94, was chosen by Brooks to be the team physician for the 1980 Olympic winners at Lake Placid. Harrington passed his 1980 gold medal around the room, instantly creating a cell-phone photo flurry of activity. He joined the meeting shortly after being named head coach of Minnesota State Mankato's women's hockey team. Dunker Joe Schmit led the discussion.
Game 857 | February 19, 2016 | Hockey Stadium Series
Lou Nanne, Brad Maxwell and Brian Bellows told stories of what they were able to get away with on the ice as active players and how much they were looking forward to participating in the North Stars/Blackhawks Alumni Game at TCF Bank Stadium. Dunker and KSTP TV sportscaster Joe Schmit acted as moderator, and the North Stars won the game 6-4 in front of an announced crowd of 37,922.
(LtoR) Joe Schmit, Brian Bellows, John Maher (physician), Lou Nanne, Chris Wright, Brad Maxwell
(LtoR) Joe Schmit, Lou Nanne, Brian Bellows, Brad Maxwell
Head Coach - Dunkers Season 45 Year 1993 | Lou Nanne
Guest speakers Lou had included Kirby Puckett, Herb Brooks, Bob Gainey, Dave Casper, Sidney Lowe, Billie Jean King, Tom Lehman, Vinnie Giles, Tom Kelly, Dave Winfield, Dennis Green, Jim Wacker, Cindy Rarick, Jack Del Rio, John Harris, Clem Haskins, Doug Woog, and Tim Tschida.
