While the season is over for most of his TCOB and Rangers compatriots, the tough stuff is only beginning for Martin Atkinson.
Hoping to break out from the 30-man Junior Black Sticks wider training group to make the final 18 for December's Junior World Cup in India, Atkinson's build-up beginswith the start of his Central team's NHL campaign this weekend.
Central will play Capital on Saturday, before getting on the plane that night to head south to face Canterbury.
Central got hammered in their recent warm-up game with Capital, although Atkinson's father Langley said his son did well in their other preseason game against a Queensland Development team, scoring two goals.
The Central coach was happy with his progress and 19-year-old Atkinson will want a good NHL campaign before going back into camp with the Junior Black Sticks.
