Big Hockey Name Hits The Ice At State Tournament
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The Boys State Hockey Tournament is next week at Xcel Energy Center, and one of the most recognizable names in Minnesota hockey will lead his team to St. Paul.
This will be the last year that's the case for Tyler Nanne with the Edina Hornets. His grandfather is Lou Nanne, a hockey legend in Minnesota. In Minnesota, there's no way of escaping that legendary last name, and nobody knows that better than Tyler.
"It's a lot of pressure on your back and you just want to make a name for yourself," Tyler said. "At the same time, I don't know how many times I've been told I'll never be as good as my grandpa."
Tyler is the co-captain for Edina, a perennial state hockey tournament team and the No. 1 seed for this year's tournament. The Hornets will head to Xcel Energy Center with a 22-4-1 record and looking to defend a state championship.
He's handled well the pressure that comes with the pedigree, proudly carrying on the family tradition.
"Hockey is in our blood and we are really passionate about that," Tyler said. "We love the game and we always will, so I think that's what really binds our family together is hockey."
Tyler is the youngest of Lou's 11 grandchildren, and the one that plays the most like him.
"Tyler has played both forward and defense like I did. Tyler's a puck-handling defenseman, which I was," Lou said.
Tyler is a senior, which makes the state tournament this year the last in the lineage of Minnesota hockey's first family.
"It tells me I'm old," Lou said.
"It's sad, but at the same time it's going to be the next chapter of my life," Tyler said.
After Lou played for the Gophers, his son, Marty, played for Edina and then the Gophers. That was the same plan for Marty's two children, Louie and Tyler, but that recently changed. Louie has verbally committed to RIP, and Tyler has committed to Ohio Stat to play hockey.
"Growing up the goal is always to be a Gopher. But I think I realized that there's more to it than just following in my grandpa's and my dad's footsteps," Tyler said. "I put that aside and just decided that I was starting from scratch. I'm going to work my hardest, get to where I want to be and make a name for myself."
Before that, there's three more games for Tyler to make his own name, and for Lou to enjoy watching. Tyler is also one of 10 finalists for this year's Mr. Hockey award.
