HE MAY have been injured for the past five weeks, but that hasn't stopped Hunter Medcalf from securing a place in the 2014 NSW Under-18 Men's Field Squad.

The 16-year-old hockey player broke his foot more than a month ago, ironically while playing hockey with his friends.

Medcalf has therefore been out of action since then and was unable to compete in the recent state championships but was reportedly "chuffed" to hear he would be competing in the National Championships next year.

Hunter's father Doug said he was surprised his son, who plays for Lithgow, was selected for the team.

"Hunter didn't think he was in sight of the selections," Medcalf said.

"His foot has been out of action for weeks now and he's been itching to get back out there and get stuck into it."

At the time Hunter broke his foot, he was helping some kids hone their hockey skills when the unthinkable happened and he injured his foot.

His injury caused him to travel to Japan as a spectator rather than a competitor for an elite hockey competition.

Doug said he and his son hoped he would be up and about by month's end to compete in the state school hockey event, which he hopes to be involved in.

"We're not sure how far off Hunter is from a full recovery but I know he hopes to compete in the state school competition.

"Hunter's missed the state teams in the past and is hoping for a strong year. He started training for this at Christmas and is really working on his stick skills. He lost that level of fitness he's had for the past four months but he wants to get it back.

"At this stage we don't know much about the National Championships. I understand Hockey NSW takes the squad away for a training camp and there they cull some players.

"They'll then take 18 players away to nationals," he said.

Hunter was the only member from his Lithgow team selected for the Under-18 Men's Field Squad.

The other 43 players come from such places like Grafton, Illawarra, Newcastle, Sydney, the Central Coast, Macarthur, Goulburn, Tamworth and the Far North Coast.

Kurt Lovett from Parkes was also selected for the team.

It is understood that more information about the team will be released in the coming weeks.