Louie Nanne
5'11" 165 Pounds Center
6/18/1994 7th Round, 188th Overall
With a name that is instantly recognizable within the local hockey community, the grandson of the legendary Lou Nanne heard his name called in the 7th Round, much to the surprise of his father Marty, who also happens to be a amateur scout for Minnesota.
The Edina Hornets Captain, who will head off to Penticton of the British Columbia Hockey League in the Fall before heading to Dinkytown in 2013 to play for The Gophers, led his team to the State High School Hockey Tournament, but fell short in their attempt at winning another title after winning one just a few years ago. Having seen Louie play a good number of times this season at various levels of skill, he stands just as good a chance as any late round pick of making the show.
Nanne has a great work ethic- he never takes shifts off, so you can count on him giving an honest effort whenever he steps on the ice. He does have a smallish frame, so more weight and strength will inevitably come with maturity and strength training. Not a blazing fast skater by any means, he does have a good set of wheels to him- he can be very quick and shifty in small spaces, but isn't a dynamic skater in a lateral sense. Having good hockey sense and instincts, Nanne knows where to be on the ice- he'll find soft spots in the offensive zone, and react accordingly on the defensive side of the puck. He doesn't have high end puck skills or creativity- the offense moving forward will be a question mark, and he's already been pigeon-holed into a grinder role in various events, such as the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament last Summer, where he donned the USA sweater. That being said, he can and will bury the puck when given the opportunity because he'll be in position to do so.
That is one of the reasons he's heading to Penticton this Fall- to work on the offensive side to his game. He may not get that opportunity playing for a loaded Lincoln Stars team (who drafted him this Spring) in the USHL.
He plays a grittier game than most kids at the MNHS level do- he's fearless going into corners and throwing his body around, although he's been on the receiving end of some absolutely crushing hits too- some cause for concern, although Nanne is a smart enough player to where he can adapt. His lack of ideal size may be an issue, but its not an end all be all- I've been told by people in and out of hockey circles that he is just a phenomenal kid. Great character, motivated, smart, doesn't take anything for granted- a good recipe for a player like him to succeed at each level, despite not being the biggest, strongest, fastest, etc.
Ultimately I see Louie Nanne being akin to Darroll Powe- a grinding type who will make his money being someone who is hard to play against, and chipping in offensively when he can. His set of intangibles may lead to him being a leader in the locker room as well.
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