Hilton has point to prove on Capital return At a glance
Blair Hilton is looking to reclaim his spot in the Black Sticks in the National Hockey League (NHL) after missing the Commonwealth Games with a knee injury.
The Capital striker has not added to his 167 caps for the Black Sticks since fracturing his patella and tearing his meniscus and MCL against Southern last year’s NHL.
Hilton said it was disappointing to miss the Commonwealth Games, where New Zealand won silver after a final defeat to Australia, but it gave him time to focus on the recovery of his knee.
‘‘It is obviously one of the tournaments everyone keeps an eye out for and wants to play in, so it was unfortunate not to be there, but in hindsight it was probably a good thing,’’ he said, ahead of tomorrow’s opening round of the NHL.
‘‘If I had of maybe done it a month or so earlier I would have been pushing it quite hard to make the team. It gave me a bit of time to relax and make sure I got my recovery right.’’
The injury kept him out for seven months after surgery, but the 29-year-old feels he is now ready to give the Black Sticks another crack as Capital prepare to host Central tomorrow.
‘‘I still have that desire to play for New Zealand, whether it comes about or not we will have to see.
‘‘It is good to see a lot of young guys coming through, so I will have to see how I go at NHL and if I have still got it we will see what happens later on in the year,’’ Hilton said.
This weekend sees a solitary round before the remaining games are played in nine days of action beginning on September 15 at the National Hockey Stadium in Wellington.
Last year Capital missed the injured Hilton for the entire knockout stage of the competition, finishing third after losing 2-1 to Auckland in the semifinals.
Hilton said this year would be one of the closest competitions for the Challenge Shield in recent times and Capital would certainly be contenders.
‘‘We always back ourselves, but it is going to be one of the closest tournaments there has been in a while . . . the belief is there in the group that we can definitely win the title.’’
The defending champions, North Harbour, will begin their campaign in a replay of last year’s final Draw for the NHL first round:
Men: Midlands v Auckland, tomorrow 2pm, Hamilton Capital v Central, tomorrow 2pm, Wellington
Southern v Canterbury, tomorrow 2pm, Dunedin
North Harbour v Auckland, Tuesday tbc, Auckland Midlands v North Harbour, Thursday tbc, North Harbour Women: Northland v North Harbour, tomorrow 2pm, Whangarei Auckland v Midlands, tomorrow 2pm, Auckland
Central v Capital, tomorrow 2pm, Hawke’s Bay Canterbury v Southern, tomorrow 2pm, Christchurch
against Auckland, who play Midlands two days earlier in Hamilton.
On the women’s side of the draw defending champions Midlands will
travel to Auckland tomorrow.
Hilton said ‘‘his guess was as good as yours’’ at picking a favourite to win the closely contested women’s competition.