University of Minnesota Athletics
Johnson, Nanne Inducted into Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame
3/2/2023 9:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS - Former Golden Gophers men's hockey players, Bob Johnson and Lou Nanne, were inducted into the Star Tribune Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame Wednesday.
Johnson joined Minnesota from Minneapolis Central High School and played as a forward from 1952-54 under the guidance of legendary head coach John Mariucci. He made 46 appearances with the Gophers and recorded 25 goals and 21 assists for 46 total points.
After winning three NCAA championships behind the bench at Wisconsin, Johnson began his National Hockey League career in 1982 when he became the head coach of the Calgary Flames, a position he held for five seasons and won more than 200 career games. He guided the Flames to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1985-86 during a 46-win regular season.
Johnson went on to coach the Pittsburgh Penguins for one season in 1990-91 and won the Stanley Cup. He had his name engraved on the Cup a second time with the Penguins in 1992, this time in memoriam after passing away earlier that season.
Nanne played 81 games across three seasons with Minnesota from 1960-63 and tallied 74 points on 22 goals and 52 assists. The defenseman was enshrined at the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in Eveleth, Minn., in 1998 thanks to his contributions to all levels of hockey in the country and has a spot in the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame.
With the Maroon and Gold, he was named a First Team All-American, WCHA MVP and a First Team All-WCHA honoree during the 1962-63 campaign. His 14 goals from the blue line that year rank fifth in Minnesota single-season history, while his 43 total points led the team, and he became the only defenseman to win the WCHA scoring title. Nanne also served as the team's captain that season on the way to a 16-9-4 record.
Nanne also played with fellow Gopher legend Herb Brooks at the 1968 Olympic Games held in Grenoble, France, and was the captain of the squad that finished sixth. After the Olympics, the Sault St. Marie, Ontario, native went on to play 11 seasons with the Minnesota North Stars (1968-78) totaling 225 points in 635 career games. He later served as the North Stars' general manager for more than a decade, was a member of the International Committee for USA Hockey and held the role of Vice President of the NHL Players Association.
Johnson joined Minnesota from Minneapolis Central High School and played as a forward from 1952-54 under the guidance of legendary head coach John Mariucci. He made 46 appearances with the Gophers and recorded 25 goals and 21 assists for 46 total points.
After winning three NCAA championships behind the bench at Wisconsin, Johnson began his National Hockey League career in 1982 when he became the head coach of the Calgary Flames, a position he held for five seasons and won more than 200 career games. He guided the Flames to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1985-86 during a 46-win regular season.
Johnson went on to coach the Pittsburgh Penguins for one season in 1990-91 and won the Stanley Cup. He had his name engraved on the Cup a second time with the Penguins in 1992, this time in memoriam after passing away earlier that season.
Nanne played 81 games across three seasons with Minnesota from 1960-63 and tallied 74 points on 22 goals and 52 assists. The defenseman was enshrined at the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in Eveleth, Minn., in 1998 thanks to his contributions to all levels of hockey in the country and has a spot in the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame.
With the Maroon and Gold, he was named a First Team All-American, WCHA MVP and a First Team All-WCHA honoree during the 1962-63 campaign. His 14 goals from the blue line that year rank fifth in Minnesota single-season history, while his 43 total points led the team, and he became the only defenseman to win the WCHA scoring title. Nanne also served as the team's captain that season on the way to a 16-9-4 record.
Nanne also played with fellow Gopher legend Herb Brooks at the 1968 Olympic Games held in Grenoble, France, and was the captain of the squad that finished sixth. After the Olympics, the Sault St. Marie, Ontario, native went on to play 11 seasons with the Minnesota North Stars (1968-78) totaling 225 points in 635 career games. He later served as the North Stars' general manager for more than a decade, was a member of the International Committee for USA Hockey and held the role of Vice President of the NHL Players Association.
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