Career
He was drafted in the first round, 23rd overall, by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1996 National Hockey League Entry Draft. Hillier started playing as a goaltender when he was six years old. After four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the Ottawa 67"s, Hillier turned pro in 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 reassigned 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 the Netherlands 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.
Hillier has returned to the Halifax area since his retirement and is involved in several ventures.
Hillier has also started his own real estate company that has been in operation since 2005. During the 2009-2010 season, Hillier was also the goaltending coach for the Saint Mary"s Huskies Women"s Hockey Team, helping them to their first Conference championship in 6 years, which also led them to play in the national AUHC tournament.