The 20-year-old said it was a huge boost for the Black Sticks, who would only get better by playing against the world's top sides more often.
"It is an amazing opportunity for us," Inglis said yesterday.
"To get this sort of preparation seven or eight months out for the Olympics is ideal really, and we are really looking forward to playing at home."
The Champions Trophy was to have been held in India but the International Federation of Hockey took the tournament off Hockey India when the national sport's governing body began negotiating with the Indian Hockey Federation to help host the event.
Hockey New Zealand was able to put a compelling bid together, securing $550,000 of the estimated $850,000 needed to run the tournament.
The shortfall is expected to be made up from ticket sales and sponsorship and, with the Owen Glenn Family Foundation on board as the major naming sponsor, the financial risk to the organisation is considered very low.
It was great for hockey and the tournament would generate some extra profile for the sport, Inglis said.
But what he is looking forward to the most is closing the gap on the world's top sides.
With sides like Australia, Germany, Netherlands, England and Spain coming to play, the Blacks Sticks will have a golden opportunity to pit themselves against the best.
"We are definitely closing the gap to the top three teams," Inglis said.
"We showed that when we beat Holland last year at the Champions Trophy and we've had close games with England. I don't think there is a lot in it between those teams, but it is now about closing the gap between Australia and Germany."
"I think we are making pretty good progress."
Inglis grew up in Dunedin and was educated at Otago Boys' High School. He played for the Southern Men but shifted north to further his hockey career two years ago, though this year he returned to the Southern side as a player of origin.
He is now living in Auckland and studying part-time for a commerce degree.
Finding the time to study recently has been a challenge with preparation shifting up a gear since the initial Olympic squad was named in August.
