Career
Hillier started playing as a goaltender when he was six years old. He found his cousin's equipment and thought "how cool it was" to play goaltender
After four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the Ottawa 67's, Hillier turned pro in 1998. Hillier made his professional debut against the then-Stanley Cup champions Detroit Red Wings in a preseason game as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins in September 1998. Hillier initially started the game as the backup goaltender, but the starting goaltender was injured several minutes into the game. Hillier lost his debut at Joe Louis Arena by the score of 3-2. Shortly after, Hillier was re-assigned to Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate in Syracuse, where he was immediately placed into the role of starting goaltender.
He then played in the ECHL, playing for four different teams in two seasons, playing for the Johnstown Chiefs, Charlotte Checkers, Toledo Storm and the Wheeling Nailers. Hillier then had a spell in Holland before returning to North America, playing in the United Hockey League for the Columbus Stars and in the Central Hockey League with the Corpus Christi Rayz before retiring in 2004.
Read more about this topic: Craig Hillier
Famous quotes containing the word career:
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