The latest about Lou Nanne

Sault-born Lou Nanne will be inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation's Hall of Fame, the Geneva-based organization has announced. The following is the full text of the IIHF's announcement of its 2004 inductees:

IIHF announces its 12-member 2004 Hall of Fame Induction Class IIHF President Rene Fasel and Walter L. Bush Jr., Chaiman of the IIHF Hall of Fame Selection Committee announced the names of the 2004 inductees into the IIHF Hall of Fame.

There are 12 members of the Class of 2004 including four in the builder's category (Mike Buckna, Ladislav Horsky, Tsutomu Kawabuchi, Miroslav Subrt) six in the player's category (Rudi Ball, Vitaly Davydov, Lou Nanne, Ronald Pettersson, Nikolai Sologubov, Frantisek Tikal) and two in the referee category (Ove Dahlberg, Yuri Karandin).

The Hall of Fame induction and ceremony will be held during the 2004 World Championship in Prague.

The exact date will be announced later.

The IIHF Hall of Fame was introduced in 1997 and now boasts 119 hockey greats from 20 different nations.

BUILDER'S CATEGORY

Buckna, Mike (CAN)

Mike Buckna developed his ice hockey skills within the Smoke Trail organization, and then led the Prague LTC team both on and off the ice, including assuming assistant coaching duties. Buckna also coached the Czechoslovakian national team and then took on the role of Director of the Czech national hockey program. In 1947, Buckna led the Czechoslovaks to their first ever World Championship. The "Father of Czechoslovak hockey" is credited not only with developing the style of play for the Czechoslovak teams, but also with advancing the game of hockey throughout the continent.

Horsky, Ladislav (SVK)

As a player, Ladislav Horsky moved between Bratislava and Prague during much of his playing career. Overall he played in 150 league games and scored 71 goals. Horsky moved onto coaching where he led Slovan Bratislava for almost 10 seasons, and coached in Germany for three. Upon returning from Germany, Horsky coached eight more seasons in Czechoslovakia. Horsky was also active with the Czech Junior and B National Teams during that same era. In 1982, Horsky accepted an assignment at the University of Wisconsin but passed away shortly after his 56th birthday.

Kawabuchi, Tsutomu (JPN)

Tsutomu Kawabuchi was a key part of the Iwakuragumi club for almost 20 years, as a player for 10 years and a coach for nine. He helped establish the Iwakuragumi franchise reputation in Japan. Kawabuchi coached the 1962 IIHF B Pool World Championship where Japan won gold. Kawabuchi organized the first ever Asian Oceanic Junior Championship in Hokkaido back in 1983, and played a big role in the following Asian Oceanic Championships. Kawabuchi is largely responsible for making women's ice hockey an official Olympic event for the first time during the 1998 Games in Nagano.

Subrt, Miroslav (CZE)

Miroslav Subrt was a co-founder and president of HC Svezda Praha. In 1953 he joined the International Committee of Czechoslovak Ice Hockey Association, and was eventually its president. Since 1957, Subrt has been a directorate member at the IIHF World Championship and Olympic Ice Hockey Tournaments. He was elected in 1959 to the IIHF Council before becoming an IIHF Vice President in 1966 until 2003, which ranks him as the longest serving high ranked official in the hockey world. Aside from working every IIHF Congress since 1956, Subrt has presided as an IIHF Tournament Chairman in over 70 events, chaired numerous IIHF Committees, and taken part in 12 Winter Olympics. Subrt was awarded with the Olympic Order during the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.

PLAYERS' CATEGORY

Ball, Rudi (GER)

Ball's splendid playing career spanned from 1928 to 1952, during which he won the German Championship 8 times (1928-1944) and participated for Germany in the 1932 and 1936 Olympic Winter Games and in four World Championships 1930-1938.He played in total 49 official games for Germany (1929-1938) and scored 19 goals. A real artist at skating and stick handling combined with a 'deadly shot' he was one of the most popular and dreaded European ice hockey players in the pre 2nd WW period. Ball passed away in 1975.

Davydov, Vitaly (RUS)

Vitaly Davydov played for only Dynamo Moscow during his entire career, totalling 548 games from 1957-1973. He was renowned for his solid body checking ability. He also suited up for the Soviet Union national team in 196 national team games winning nine IIHF World Championship titles and three Olympic gold After his playing career he coached Dynamo Moscow and also with his national ice hockey federation junior national team programs where he led the USSR team to the title in the 1978 World U20 Championship in Canada. Currently, Davydov is a Vice President of Moscow Dynamo club.

Nanne, Lou (USA)

Lou Nanne was an All-American player at the University of Minnesota from 1959-63. In 1968, Nanne began an illustrious international career when as captain of the U.S. Olympic Team. He went on to serve as captain of the 1976 and 1977 U.S. Men's National Teams. He was named general manager of the U.S. teams in the 1981, 1984 and 1987 Canada Cup tournaments and the the 1994 IIHF World Championship. Following the 1968 Olympics, Nanne joined the Minnesota North Stars totalling 72 goals and 167 assists for 239 points in 11 seasons. Nanne was the North Star's GM, serving in that capacity until 1990. In 1998 he was enshrined in the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.

Pettersson, Ronald (SWE)

Ronald Pettersson played for three different teams during 16 seasons in Sweden, during which he won two national titles. Pettersson also starred in 10 IIHF World Championships capturing two world titles, three silver medals and two bronze. His three Olympics in 1956, 1960 and 1964 left him with one silver medal. Overall, he played 252 games for the national team, which still ranks third today. Only a career ending injury in December 1967 prevented participation in his fourth Olympics in 1968. Pettersson moved onto coaching, where he eventually led Swedish national team to two third place finishes. He then headed up Norway's national team from 1978 to 1981. A hockey cult-figure in Sweden.

Sologubov, Nikolai (RUS)

Nikolai Sologubov did not get involved in organized ice hockey until the age of 25, when he embarked on a career with the club the Red Army that spanned from 1949 – 1964. A nine time national champion, he played in 350 league games, scoring 128 goals. Sologubov played Soviet Union in six IIHF World Championship, winning a medal every time. He also won two Olympic gold medals. He was named the Best Defenseman three times. Sologubov passed away in 1988.

Tikal, Frantisek (CZE)

Frantisek Tikal played in close to 370 games and scored 80 goals in Czechoslovak league. The defenseman played in the 1960 and 1964 Olympic Winter Games and in the IIHF World Championships 1957-1960 and 1963-1967. In 59 games Franticek Tikal tallied 17 goals. He won six medals (two silver, four bronze) at the IIHF World Championships and also was and Olympic bronze medallist in 1964. He moved onto coaching for eight seaons in Poland and Czechoslovakia. He was named to the Directorate Team twice and to the Media all-Star Team once at the World Championships. One of the best defensemen of his era. more inductees