Rush Trade Captain
Published on August 9, 2011 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release
Edmonton, AB--Edmonton Rush General Manager/Head Coach Derek Keenan announced today one of the biggest trades in the organization's history.
The Edmonton Rush have traded Captain Brodie Merrill, Mike McLellan, Dean Hill, the 41st overall pick (5th round) in the 2011 Entry Draft and a 2013 Entry Draft 4th round selection to the Philadelphia Wings in exchange for Athan Iannucci, Brodie McDonald, Alex Turner, a 2012 Entry Draft 1st round selection, a 2013 Entry Draft 1st round selection and a 2014 Entry Draft 1st round selection.Ianucci is one of the premier scorers in the NLL who set the league record for goals in a season, totaling 71 during an incredible 2008 campaign. After missing all of the 2010 season with torn knee ligaments, Ianucci returned to the Philadelphia lineup last season and led the Wings in scoring with 29 goals and 32 assists for 61 points.
"This was not an easy trade to make, on a personal level and from an Edmonton Rush team perspective. The reasons are multi-layered." states General Manager/Head Coach Keenan.
"First and foremost we received the single season goal scoring record holder, one of the top 2 young goaltending prospects in lacrosse and a big, solid young left handed offensive player along with 3 first round draft picks. These are all solid assets moving forward."
"Trading Brodie Merrill was the most difficult move I have ever made in my many, many years of involvement in lacrosse. He is the consummate professional and a tremendous leader. However on a personal level for Brodie this is a good move for him. With his involvement with the Hill Academy, a family operated prep school in North Toronto it was becoming more and more difficult for him to travel and play in the West Division. The school continues to grow and with his role as Lacrosse Program Director the demands on his time continue grow. Although difficult, this is a good trade for the Rush, for Brodie and I think for the Philadelphia Wings as well."
Ianucci, a native of Port Moody, B.C., has notched 252 points including 153 goals in just 54 regular-season games in the NLL. The six-foot-four, 215-pound forward was at his best in the 2008 season as he set the league record with 71 goals, eclipsing the previous mark set by Hall of Fame member Gary Gait. Ianucci was the NLL's leading scorer that season with 100 points, and racked up a long list of awards including the league's MVP nod, a starting spot in the All-Star Game, and First Team All-Pro honors.
As well in 2008, Ianucci captured three Player of the Month awards, and for just the second time in league history earned the Player of the Month recognition in back-to-back months (January/February).
Ianucci broke into the NLL as the eighth overall pick in the 2007 Entry Draft and went on to score 30 goals in his rookie campaign with the Wings, earning him a spot on the league's All-Rookie Team. Prior to joining the Wings, Ianucci was a standout in the NCAA ranks with Hofstra University, where in 2006 he tied for the national scoring title with 62 goals and 18 assists. Ianucci played his junior lacrosse with Coquitlam and St. Catharines.
"First off, I would like to thank Brodie Merrill for everything he did for the Rush franchise, in game action and in particular within the Edmonton community," said Rush Owner Bruce Urban.
"Brodie is an exceptional player - one of the world's best - and it is not easy to see him leave the team, and of course he will be missed. But in return, we have acquired an incredibly talented scorer in Athan Ianucci who I believe the fans will instantly love for his skill."
"Our lineup has never featured a truly elite level scorer in his prime and I'm excited to see what Athan can achieve with the talent we have surrounded him with."
Turner comes to the Rush after having his most productive season in the NLL, registering 17 goals and 22 assists for 39 points. The six-foot, 200-pound native of Kamloops, B.C., was drafted 32nd overall by San Jose in the 2009 NLL Entry Draft and scored 16 points in his rookie season with the Stealth. He was traded on draft day in 2009 to Minnesota but appeared in only one game the following season with the Swarm and was dealt to Philadelphia.
MacDonald is regarded as one of the NLL's brightest goaltending prospects, having been selected 19th overall in the 2010 Entry Draft by the Wings. The six-foot-seven, 245-pounder from Vernon, B.C., won a Minto Cup in his final year of junior and was a B.C. Junior League Second Team All-Star.
This summer, Ianucci, Turner and MacDonald all played for the Langley Thunder of the WLA. Ianucci led the team with 29 goals and 29 assists for 58 points which ranked him ninth in the league, while Turner recorded 17 goals and 25 assists for 48 points. Playing in his senior league rookie season, MacDonald registered the third-best goals-against average in the WLA at 8.51 and had a .822 save-percentage while sporting a 6-2-2 record.
The first-round picks acquired by the Rush are Philadelphia's selections in the 2012, 2013, and 2014 NLL Entry Drafts. The picks sent to Philadelphia are the Rush's fifth-round selection in 2011 and fourth-round selection in 2013.
A two-time winner of the league's Transition Player of the Year, Merrill departs the Rush after a pair of seasons during which he twice earned the team's MVP award. Merrill appeared in all 32 regular-season games in his two years with the Rush, and set all major team records for a transition player.
Hill played in 24 games over two seasons with the Rush, collecting 51 points including 28 goals. McLellan, who was originally an expansion draft selection of the Rush 2005, returned to the team last season in the trade that sent Gavin Prout to Colorado. In six games with Edmonton, he scored three goals and eight assists.
National Lacrosse League Stories from August 9, 2011
- Bandits, Culp Agree to Two-Year Contact - Buffalo Bandits
- Rush Trade Captain - Edmonton Rush
- News Philadelphia Wings Acquire Brodie Merrill from Edmonton - Philadelphia Wings
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
