One week after signing New Westminster native Tyler Digby to a new one-year contract, the Vancouver Stealth have turned around and dealt the versatile two-way player to the New England Black Wolves for sniper Garrett Billings.
The National Lacrosse League Stealth shipped Digby and a second round draft pick to acquire Billings, a former Burnaby junior Laker.
When the NLL season begins in January, Billings will be restarting his career having missed all but eight games last season after he tore his ACL. In the shortened season, he tallied five times and set up 31 goals, Prior to that, he was the first NLL player to post three straight 100-point seasons.
“Garrett brings great leadership to the offense. His lacrosse IQ is a tremendous asset for us. He is always looking to make his teammates better and puts them in great situations to score,” said Stealth head coach Dan Perreault.
Billings has averaged two goals per game during his six seasons in the NLL, and has accumulated 509 points over 86 games.
It was the second time that Billings had been traded for a New Westminster product, as midway through the 2015 NLL season he was dealt by the Toronto Rock to New England for Kevin Crowley.
New England didn’t keep Digby long; the New Westminster native was shipped Monday to the Calgary Roughnecks in a deal that landed the Wolves the reigning league MVP Shawn Evans.
In Billings, Vancouver nets one of the league’s top offensive shooters. He placed third in league scoring in 2014 with 101 points (32 goals, 69 assists) and led the NLL in average points-per-game (6.73) while playing in just 15 games.
Playing junior A lacrosse in Burnaby, Billings was part of the Lakers’ Minto Cup wins in 2004 and 2005.
“He brings a different dimension to the weapons we already have and the fact that he is a local player is fantastic. He is a familiar face to the public and we are excited to show him off to the community he grew up in,” said Stealth president and general manager Doug Locker.
“I could not be more excited for this opportunity to join the Stealth, and I know my family is equally happy to drive just a few minutes down the road and watch me play,” said Billings.
“Looking at this year’s roster, I am joining a very deep team with some great players, and with that comes great expectations. There is some pressure on me to perform well and I am looking forward to the challenge.”
A finalist for the NLL’s Most Valuable Player award in 2012, 2013 and 2015, Billings was recognized in both 2013 and 2014 as the circuit’s Sportsmanship Award winner.
