Lou Nanne, voice of the Boys State Hockey Tournament, reflects on 60 years of calling games

CATHY WURZER: One of the country's premier high school sports events begins Wednesday in Saint Paul. It's the Minnesota Boy's State High School Hockey Tournament. And this year will mark the last time TV viewers will enjoy commentary on those games from a hockey legend, Lou Nanne.

Lou started broadcasting the games as a young guy in 1964 after playing for the Gopher hockey team. He went on to play for the US Olympic men's hockey team and for the Minnesota North Stars NHL team. Oh, yeah, the hockey hall-of-famer also managed the North Stars. Through all that time, he's done color commentary for the boys high school tourney. That is 60 years, if you're counting. Lou Nanne is on the line right now to look back and look ahead to this year's tourney.

Lou, thanks for taking the time.

LOU NANNE: Oh, my pleasure, Cathy. Thank you very much.

CATHY WURZER: I should know this story, but how the heck did you get behind the mic in 1964 to start this amazing run of yours?

LOU NANNE: Well, I was actually working at the time. I was in a contract dispute with Chicago, so I wasn't playing hockey. And channel 11, at that time, WTCN, had the rights. I was doing a high school game on radio in Saint Louis Park for a station I can't remember the call letters. But they asked me to come over and do a little test to see if I would be willing and able to do the state high school hockey tournament with Frank Buetel. So I did. And in March of 1964, I started broadcasting the tournament.

CATHY WURZER: Now, I look forward to watching the boys hockey tournament every year. I love watching the kids. What is it about high school games that tickles you?

LOU NANNE: I think, first of all, it's the unbridled enthusiasm. You just can't imagine the feeling in that arena that these kids project. You've got kids that this is their lifelong dream. It's not playing for the Wild. It's not playing for the Stanley Cup or the Olympics. At that time of their life, all they want to do is play in the state high school tournament.

And that enthusiasm and that feeling, it just permeates throughout the stadium because now you've got their families, their friends, the school, the bands, and you've got eight teams competing for it. And it's something that's so unusual and different. It's so fantastic, that it's a thrill that you see the guys that are able to achieve their dream here, cherish for the rest of their life.

CATHY WURZER: Now I know you've seen some amazing games over the years. And I know it's tough to remember 60 years of hockey. But I'm betting one of my all time favorite games could have been yours too. It was a long one-- 1996. Do you remember it?

LOU NANNE: Yep, Apple Valley-Duluth, five overtimes. That was the most amazing game of them all. And the reason why because when we went into overtime, I've never seen such lack of defense and greater opportunities that teams had to win a game, and they couldn't win it. The goal-tending was fantastic. But the chances were just constant, and they never stopped coming. And each team having the opportunities to win, going back and forth, back and forth. I didn't think that game was ever going to end. It was a game that people that were able to watch it probably appreciated almost as much as the people that played in it.

CATHY WURZER: And it was exhausting to watch.

LOU NANNE: Oh, and funny you said that because at the end of the fourth overtime, my broadcast partner said to me off the air, boy, I hope it's a good goal that wins. I said, are you kidding me? I don't care if they throw it in the net. I just want to go home to sleep.

[LAUGHTER]

CATHY WURZER: And the Duluth East Hounds, they lost that night against Apple Valley, I believe.

LOU NANNE: Yeah, they did. And by the way, Cathy, they scored a goal, and I think it was in the fourth overtime-- or it wasn't a goal. But I think if we had instant replay, it might have been a goal. So that's just prolonged the game longer.

CATHY WURZER: And of course, you've had some special moments including broadcasting your son Marty and grandkids Tyler and Vinni's games. They all played in the tournament. That was really fun.

LOU NANNE: No, Tyler and Louie.

CATHY WURZER: Yeah, Tyler and Louie. Yes, that's right.

LOU NANNE: Yeah, Vinni's team didn't make it in Minnetonka. That's why I'm really pleased that I had the opportunity to broadcast some games when he was playing for the Wild.

CATHY WURZER: Oh, great. And that was, I'm sure, great fun.

LOU NANNE: Yes. Those were the hardest games I ever had to broadcast because you want to make sure that you're maintaining a neutral posture and really broadcasting the game in a professional manner. But at the same time, it's tough to keep your concentration when they're on the ice because you're almost drifting, watching what they're doing too. And it's really-- you're sounding neutral on the outside, but your insides are churning. And I got to tell you, it was a fantastic thrill but something that just ate me up. They were easily the toughest games I ever had to broadcast.

CATHY WURZER: You know, news of your decision to call it quits after this tournament made Sports Illustrated, for goodness sakes. I bet this was a tough decision for you. How are you feeling going into the last tournament?

LOU NANNE: It was. Yeah, because just a year ago, Randy Shaver was doing a show with me and asked how long I was going to do the tournament. I said, well, I've got great grandchildren now. I said until one of them makes it, I'll keep doing it to see if I can do one of their games.

And then last year, after the tournament-- actually it was during the tournament and on my way home, and I hit a pothole. And I drove 12 miles on a flat tire. I had no coat. And I said, what am I doing here? You know, at my age? And I thought about it. And then this summer actually, I told KSTP that I was going to retire after this year.

CATHY WURZER: And then are you surprised at all the outpouring of love and support?

LOU NANNE: Yes, I am very. I mean, I'm completely blown away by it. I didn't think it was going to be anything of note. And it's been very, very surprising. But I'm very appreciative of it. I'm very appreciative of all the kind words and attention that I've received.

CATHY WURZER: So I have to ask you this. And, again, I should know this, talking to you over all these many years. How do you prepare for a tournament?

LOU NANNE: Well, actually, you do it all year long. I read or talk to people or teams about their team, how it's going, and get an idea of who might be in the tournament during the year when it finally comes, and I watched right down the line, and if I'm home or on Christmas or something and go catch a couple of games. But it's just keeping in touch with people in the hockey world, the high school hockey world, and the information I get and the information that I'm able to read about and put together.

And then now, like this past Saturday, I spent time with all the coaches just discussing their team. And then we'll have a production meeting today, and we'll go over more information and then look at the players, look at the team, and then get ready for it.

CATHY WURZER: Which teams this year are the most interesting to you? Beyond Edina because I know you've got a soft spot for Edina.

LOU NANNE: Yeah. See, that's something-- I really don't have a soft spot for anybody except when my kids are playing because I just-- it's a thrill for everybody, and I'm completely open and accepting of anybody that wins. But Chanhassen made a tremendous run to get in to beat an undefeated Minnetonka team. You've got Rochester, John Marshall, Century upset Lakeville. And you've got White Bear coming back and having to beat a tough Hill-Murray team. And I mean, there's a story for every one of them-- Elk River, Centennial-- you could go on and on.

So I'm interested in seeing who's going to be the upset team in the first brackets. And then from there on, I'm always aware that there's going to be upsets. There always is. Anytime you have a one-game playoff, you never know the outcome. As you said, the two favorites going in are Edina and Chanhassen. But I'm not so certain that that's who we're going to be seeing in the final game because things happen along the way.

CATHY WURZER: I'm so glad you mentioned there's always stories, of course, in any tournament. Are you still planning on holding court at Mancini's after the last game and swap stories?

LOU NANNE: Oh, definitely. That's been a tradition that I started years and years ago with Nick Mancini. And it's like anything else. It'd be maybe like running a marathon. After you're over, you're dead. You're exhausted. You just want to kick back and relax. And it's almost like a big weight off your shoulders, and then you just sit around with your team, which is our production team and our broadcast team, and have a little food and drink and just revel in the fact that you got through another tournament and enjoyed another big one.

CATHY WURZER: Well, thank you for an outstanding 60 years, Louis. It's been a delight to listen to you. I hope you enjoy every minute of this tournament.

LOU NANNE: Well, thanks so much, Cathy. I'm looking forward to it. It's great to be with you.

CATHY WURZER: That's Lou Nanne, broadcaster for the Minnesota High School League's Boy's State Hockey Tournament. You can watch him for his final broadcast, channel 45, this coming Wednesday through Saturday.

Louis mentioned Wednesday's first game-- that's Class 1A-- is going to pit New Ulm against last season's runner up, Warroad. That's followed by Northfield against Saint Cloud cathedral. Wednesday evening finds the number one seed in Class A, Hermantown, against Alexandria. Orono and defending champ Mahtomedi finish Wednesday night's games.

Class AA schools, playing on Thursday-- Rochester Century/John Marshall against Chanhassen. Cretin-Derham Hall will take on Centennial. Edina, the number one seed in Class AA, will play Elk River/Zimmerman on Thursday night. And White Bear Lake will play my favorite team, Grand Rapids, the Thunderhawks.

It's always a good time with that tournament. And it was really fun to talk to Louis Nanne. So Thank you for listening to Minnesota Now here today, again another show that covers almost everything here from, gosh, wildfires to the State Boy's Hockey Tournament. Thank you for listening. Hope you have a good rest of the day. This is MPR News.