Garrett Billings has survived the first cut in his quest to wear the Maple Leaf this summer.
Billings was announced as one of 51 invitees by the Canadian Lacrosse Association for an upcoming selection camp.
The camp runs Oct. 11 to Oct. 14 on the campus at Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y.
The players are vying for spots on Team Canada, which will compete at the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) world championships from July 19 to July 19 in Denver, Colo.
“Getting from 97 applicants to the 51 Team Canada invitee list was certainly no easy task and when you look at the quality and character of the selection camp list, our job doesn’t get any easier,” said Canadian coach Randy Mearns.
“In my experience with the national team program, I think it is safe to say that this is the deepest, most qualified group of Canadian field lacrosse players trying to earn a spot to represent Canada.”
Billings, who graduated through the ranks of the Langley Minor Lacrosse Association, plays in the National Lacrosse League with the Toronto Rock and in the summer in the Western Lacrosse Association with the Langley Thunder.
Also earning invitations were the Thunder’s Brett Mydske, Adam Jones and Mark Matthews, Langley Jr. Thunder’s Danny McDermott and Rhys Duch, who plays in the NLL with the Vancouver Stealth.