NLL Insider

Some have called Athan Iannucci’s 2008 season a “flash in the pan”.

Others have said it was the coming out party of a legend in the making.

No matter where you have Iannucci ranked in the grand scheme of the game, one thing you undoubtedly can’t deny, is the season he dropped on the sport last winter was definitely one for the ages.

Love him, hate him, don’t buy he’s got enough in the tank to continue his torrid pace? Who cares, cuz unless you’ve just had a lobotomy (and I wouldn’t rule that out for some of you), it’s next to impossible not to realize that what Athan Iannucci did in 2008 was something truly special.

Iannucci’s 71 goals came outta absolutely nowhere last year. Whether his name appears in the career section of the record books is still obviously unknown, but you’d have to think his 71 should hold up for a while.

It’s also interesting to note, that when looking at some of the greatest single goal scoring seasons previous to AI’s 71, there aren’t too many of those “flash in the pans” included on the list. Actually, there aren’t any. The other top single season scorers in the league? Check ‘em out below…

2003 Gary Gait, Colorado Mammoth 61
1998 Gary Gait, Baltimore Thunder 57
2004 Gary Gait, Colorado Mammoth 55
2002 Paul Gait, Washington Power 54
2006 John Grant, Rochester Knighthawks 54
2002 Chris Gill, Vancouver Ravens 53
2002 John Grant, Rochester Knighthawks 52

Iannucci’s ability to wire through the heart of even the tightest of D’s, bait guys to candy-from-a-baby status, weave the outside like Martha Stewart would a basket, grab loosies he has no business beating the opposition to, and a never say die attitude most around the league don’t know about yet, make Iannucci one of the most influential players in the game today.

His rumoured return to the court after off-season knee surgery has sparked the masses in Philly to forget about last weekend’s mediocre O showing and thinking potential Cup run again.

Previous to his unfortunate knee injury, Iannucci was averaging almost four points a game with the St. Regis Indians, a year removed from a 95 point season with the New West Bellies. Not bad for a guy some call a “one hit wonder”.

Interesting fact: Iannucci is the only second year player in league history to be named the game’s MVP, which of course happened last winter during his 71-goal campaign and the Wings turnaround season. AI was only taken seventh overall in the 2006 entry draft, with Ryan Benesch, Kyle Sorenson, Brett Bucktooth, Geoff Snider, Ian Llord, Mike Grimes and Paul Dawson taken ahead of him. Iannucci, who spent three years at Hofstra, is only the second Pride member to be taken in the first round of the NLL’s previous 21 drafts. The other? Chris Panos, who was taken fourth overall by Boston in the 1996 draft.

Does Iannucci belong in the NLL Insider Top 50? Hit the boards and let us know what your Top 50 looks like heading into the 2009 NLL season…

#50 Matt Roik, San Jose Stealth
#49 Jon Sullivan, Minnesota Swarm
#48 Billy Dee Smith, Buffalo Bandits
#47 Steve Toll, Rochester Knighthawks
#46 Jarett Park, New York Titans
#45 Bruce Murray, Colorado Mammoth
#44 Shawn Evans, Rochester Knighthawks
#43 Peter Lough, Toronto Rock
#42 Matt Vinc, New York Titans
#41 Jeff Shattler, Calgary Roughnecks
#40 Craig Point, Minnesota Swarm
#39 Scott Ranger, Calgary Roughnecks
#38 Brian Langtry, Colorado Mammoth
#37 Sean Pollock, Minnesota Swarm
#36 Jake Bergey, Boston Blazers
#35 Pat O’Toole, Rochester Knighthawks
#34 Kyle Sweeney, Philadelphia Wings
#33 Luke Wiles, Toronto Rock
#32 Ryan Boyle, New York Titans
#31 Chris White, Buffalo Bandits
#30 Jordan Hall, New York Titans
#29 Shawn Nadelen, Philadelphia Wings
#28 Cam Woods, Toronto Rock
#27 Mike Accursi, Buffalo Bandits
#26 Dan Carey, Colorado Mammoth
#25 Pat Maddalena, New York Titans
#24 Andy Secore, Edmonton Rush
#23 Ryan Ward, Minnesota Swarm
#22 Tracey Kelusky, Calgary Roughnecks
#21 Josh Sanderson, Calgary Roughnecks
#20 Shawn Williams, Rochester Knighthawks
#19 Blaine Manning, Toronto Rock
#18 Nick Patterson, Minnesota Swarm
#17 Eric Martin, San Jose Stealth
#16 Scott Evans, Rochester Knighthawks
#15 Scott Self, Edmonton Rush
#14 Anthony Cosmo, Boston Blazers
#13 Geoff Snider, Philadelphia Wings
#12 Lewis Ratcliff, Toronto Rock
#11 Ryan Cousins, Minnesota Swarm
#10 Brodie Merrill, Portland Lumberjax
#09 Bob Watson, Toronto Rock
#08 Gavin Prout, Colorado Mammoth
#07 Mark Steenhuis, Buffalo Bandits
#06 Casey Powell, New York Titans
#05 Jeff Zywicki, San Jose Stealth
#04 John Tavares, Buffalo Bandits
#03 Athan Iannucci, Philadelphia Wings

Hit this link for NLL Insider’s Top 50 archive and keep checkin’ back every week as we countdown the top 50 best in the pro game, with #1 being named just before the NLL season kicks off.

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