Selected 7th overall from the Oshawa Generals in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft by the Vancouver Canucks, Lanz began his National Hockey League the following season. He worn the Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs and Chicago Blackhawks colours in the league, as well as those of HC Ambri-Piotta of the Switzerland's Nationalliga A and of various teams of minor leagues. Upon retiring in 1993, he coached several junior teams; he eventually left coaching behind when the Colorado Avalanche hired him as a head scout for Western Canada/USA.