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Athan Iannucci, shown here in Langley Thunder garb, returns to the LEC Sunday with Colorado. (Province Files.)
For one evening at least, John Grant, Jr. is a sidebar story going into an opposing arena.
The Colorado Mammoth pushed Grant, one of the game’s all-time greats, down the news agenda for Friday’s face-off at the Langley Events Centre (8 p.m.) with the Vancouver Stealth when they inked former Stealth sniper Athan Iannucci on Wednesday.
Iannucci, 31, was cut by the Steath at the close of training camp a few weeks back, after spending two seasons with the club. He was third in team scoring in 2013, winding up with 47 points, including 22 goals, in 14 games with the then Everett-based crew.
He lives in Langley and plays for the LEC’s main summer tenant, the Langley Thunder of the Western Lacrosse Association. He’s also an assistant coach with the Langley Jr. A team that is based there.
The Stealth, looking for more grit and versatility to complement Rhys Duch, 27, and Lewis Ratcliff, 32, up front, kept the likes of rookie Tyler Digby, 22, and free agent find Alex Gajic, 26, instead.
Stealth brass maintained that the parting with Iannucci was as amicable as possible. Iannucci didn’t do anything on Wednesday to dissuade that premise.
“The Stealth were nothing but good to me during my time with team,” Iannucci stated via email Wednesday. “They would fall in the ‘over and above,’ category in fact. Denise Watkins [the team owner] is a great woman and, in kind, great for the sport.
“That said, it’s not really about them at this point. It’s about the Colorado Mammoth. They are a world-class organization. Their fans are legendary.
“The thing that excites me most about all this, though? The Colorado Mammoth believe in me. That is what’s most important to me as a player and I will work tirelessly to validate that faith. Friday is just the first step down that road.”
Colorado (1-3) is looking to add to its offence. Their lone win was a 13-12 decision over Vancouver (1-1) at home in the Stealth’s season opener Jan. 4. Colorado fell 17-6 to the host Edmonton Rush last Saturday.
To open up a spot for Iannucci, the Mammoth released righty Jordan McBride, 27, who spends his summers in the WLA with the New Westminster Salmonbellies. He had one goal and seven points in three games. They also dropped one-time Thunder lefty Jamie Lincoln, 27, who had one goal and three points in two games.
Colorado also inked lefty Dean Hill, 29, who was cut by Vancouver after training camp, to their four-man practice roster.
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