Even though he hasn't played a game in over three months, Justin Larson (Buckhorn/) still has some work to do.

Larson, the 2012-13 CIS scoring champ and second-team All-Canadian, has been invited to attend the Washington Capitals development camp beginning on July 8 at the Caps' training facility in Arlington, Virginia.

Larson, a five-year OHL vet who went undrafted before joining the Warriors in 2011, is well aware that his second chance to make an NHL impression is rare. But the third-year Legal Studies major has decided there's only one way to attack an opportunity like this – without hesitation.

“I think the only way to really approach it is to jump in with two feet,” said Larson. “The end goal is to go, play as hard as I can, and hopefully get offered a contract.”

To say the 6'4” forward came into his own last season would be a major understatement. Larson's 45 points in the 28-game OUA season was a career high – and was five more than he registered in his best season with the Peterborough Petes through 57 games in 2009-10. And while Larson acknowledges that he's since grown into his large frame, he thinks his game's biggest improvement has been between the ears.

“I really think it's all mental,” Larson said of his progression. “In junior, the focus is to get drafted. Now I'm a little older and smarter, and I know how to deal with certain situations better.”

Larson first found his way onto the Caps' radar earlier in the season, but his first meeting with a member of Washington's scouting staff was after game 1 of the OUA West division final in Windsor. Head coach Brian Bourque knew before the game that his leading scorer was being scouted, but kept Larson in the dark in order to ensure his focus was unwavering. That turned out to be a great coaching maneuver – Larson scored both Warriors goals in regulation that night en route to a 3-2 overtime win.

While losing a potential CIS superstar is a frightening premise for Bourque, it's not an entirely foreign concept – last year, Warriors recruit Josh McFadden signed an entry-level deal with the Florida Panthers before ever suiting up for Waterloo. And while he'd be thrilled to have his leading scorer return, Bourque knows what a pro contract could mean for both Larson and his program's long-term reputation.

“I really don't know what's going to happen,” said Bourque. “I truly believe his skill set and ability are good enough to earn a contract. This is a necessary step for our program, but I honestly don't know what's going to happen.”

Since Larson is a free agent invitee to the Caps' camp, he can return to the Warriors in the fall if he's not offered a contract. And if that is the case, Bourque thinks Larson will come back an even stronger player and student than he was last year.

“If he comes back, (the camp) will be helpful on a number of levels,” said Bourque. “He will have seen the ability of the top players in the game. And it is going to have a trickle-down effect on our team. He'll come back with more attention to detail, and more work ethic in practice, and that will have an effect on everyone else.”

In addition to signing Larson to a contract, the Capitals also have the option to invite him to their rookie camp in late summer and the team's main training camp in September. The Capitals' development camp will run from July 8-13, and Larson will arrive in Arlington on July 7 in preparation for day one of on-ice testing and practice sessions. For updates on Larson at the Caps' development camp, follow @uwwarriorhockey on Twitter.