Canadian Lacrosse Association Website
DETROIT (10/7/2013) -- The pride of the Titan defense for four years is one step closer to another monumental achievement as 2013 University of Detroit Mercy men's lacrosse graduate
Jordan Houtby is vying for a spot on the Canadian National Men's Field Lacrosse Team.
Late in September, the Canadian Lacrosse Association (CLA) announced that it selected 51 players to try out for the team and the former Titan LSM was on that list. The selection camp will be held from October 11-14 on the campus of Canisius College in Buffalo, NY. The candidates will have a busy weekend with a series of intra-squad events and scrimmages against NCAA Division I programs Denver, Robert Morris, and Canisius over the four days.
Once Team Canada is formed, it will compete at the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) World Championships, scheduled for July 10-19, 2014, in Denver, Colo.
A total of 97 players submitted tryout applications which were considered by a selection committee, including current and past national team coaches as well as current college and professional coaches. Team Canada is coach by Randy Mearns, who is no stranger to Houtby's game as he is the current head coach at MAAC-rival Canisius.
"Getting from 97 applications 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 Mearns. "I am excited to bring this group together in a few weeks and I know we'll have many tough decisions to make. In my experience with the national 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 in the World Championships next July."
Houtby – who was drafted by the Minnesota Swarm of the National Lacrosse League in September - represented Team Canada last year in the 'Duel In Denver' against Team USA.
A three-time MAAC LSM Of The Year, Houtby left Detroit as the program's first-ever Scholar All-American by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA). He played in 61 games as a Titan, tied for the most in school history, and ended his career with 158 caused turnovers and 289 ground balls. With the NCAA adding caused turnovers as a recognized statistic in 2010, Houtby is currently the all-time leader in that category, while his 289 GB's was fifth among active Division I players in his four years.
Offensively, he also posted 14 points on nine goals and five assists from his LSM position.
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