The Wings host San Jose on Friday at Wachovia Center. Iannucci, Geoff Snider and Taylor Wray will fly from Philadelphia to Edmonton for All-Star Weekend at approximately 6am on Saturday morning.
ALL-STAR PROFILE: ATHAN IANNUCCI
Wings forward makes first career All-Star appearance this weekend
03/13/2008
With the Philadelphia Wings closing in on the halfway point of the season, there are many questions surrounding the league-scoring leader, and potential MVP candidate, Athan Iannucci.On top of his team being first in the East Division at 6-1, Iannucci is now 26 goals away from NLL great Gary Gait's historic mark of 61 goals in a single season.
In the meantime, Iannucci's big season has been rewarded with a trip to Sunday's All-Star game in Edmonton where he'll be a starting forward for the East Division.
"Being selected as a starter in the All-Star Game is a great honor," said Iannucci. "Playing with greats like (John) Taveres and (Jim) Veltman will be a great learning opportunity for me."
The journey to the NLL for the 25-year-old from Coquitlam, British Columbia started at an early age when a newsletter in the third grade promoting lacrosse caught the eye of a young Iannucci.
"I'm not entirely sure why, but I really wanted to play and I pressured and perused my parents until they let me play," said Iannucci.
After getting the green light from his parents to start playing lacrosse, Iannucci fell in love with the game from the first time he picked up a stick.
"I don't know that there was ever a distinct time I made a choice to give myself to lacrosse," said Iannucci. "It's almost like it was never a question."
After a successful college career at Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY, which included a 62-goal season in 2006, Iannucci was drafted in the first round (8th overall) of the 2006 NLL Entry Draft by the Philadelphia Wings.
In his first season in the league, Iannucci scored 30 goals and 24 assists in 15 games. In seven games so far this season, Iannucci leads the league with 35 goals to go along with 15 assists.
"He is an important part of our success," said Wings Head Coach Dave Huntley about his star forward. "He is very passionate about this game."
With the eclipsing of last year's goal scoring mark by the sixth game this game, it isn't a surprise that many feel Iannucci has a legitimate shot at Gait's record. However, for Iannucci, the individual accomplishment would fall second to winning an NLL championship.
"I have never been a part of a championship team," said Iannucci. "When a whole team of people come together and achieve greatness as a unit, as one, those are the things you cherish on your death bed, being a part of something greater."
--Darek Truesdale/NLL.com
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