FEBRUARY 9, 2010 – COLOGNE, GERMANY -- Next month, Germany will be represented at the Olympic Winter Games for the 19^th time.  Although the country has only two medals in the sport (Bronze, 1932 and 1976), Germany has qualified for competition regularly.  This year, a young star hopes to add some offense to a club hoping for its first men’s ice hockey medal in 34 years.

Marcel Mueller Photo (this page and main page) by Dirk Unverferth

On two occasions, in 1924 (in Chamonix, France) and 1948 (in St. Moritz, Switzerland) did Germany ended up out of the competition. 

This year, Germany punched its Olympic ticket by winning the qualification tournament in Hanover, Germany with victories over Japan (7-1), Austria (2-1) and Slovenia (2-1).

Germany offers an array of pros who can compete at a high level in the Olympics, including NHLers such as goaltender Thomas Greiss (San Jose); Defensemen Dennis Seidenberg (Florida), Christian Ehrhoff (Vancouver) and Alexander Sulzer (Nashville); Forwards Marco Sturm (Boston), Marcel Goc (Nashville) and Jochen Hecht (Buffalo).

Head coach Uwe Krupp comes to Vancouver with a good mixture of experienced players and some hopeful youngsters.

One of them, center Marcel Mueller, offers a youthful infusion to Germany’s medal hopes.

Born in Berlin, Germany on July 10, 1988, Mueller left his hometown at age 15 to play for the Mannheim Eagles of the German Elite League (DEL). After two years with the Eagles he returned to Berlin where he split his time between the DEL Polarbears and the junior Polarbears.

In 2006 he won the DEL championship with Berlin but saw a better opportunity to become a complete player by joining the Cologne Sharks, where he helped the club reach to reach the finals again the following season.  Ironically, his new club would lose to his old club, the Polarbears, despite his chipping in seven goals and eight assists. 

With his inclusion on the 2010 German Olympic roster and his country hosting the World Championships next spring, Mueller can look forward to showcasing his skills on huge stages.

“Vancouver will be a big challenge,” says Mueller “The World Championships are big, but the Olympics are huge, since the NHL shuts down to allow their players to represent their country. I hope to showcase my abilities and help Germany surprise our opponents and advance at least to the quarterfinals.  After that I would like to fulfil my childhood dream of playing in the NHL.”

He is well on the way to fulfilling his dreams, playing the best hockey of his career this season and showing his all around skills – he is smart, fast, uses his size (6’3” 218) effectively.

Through 41 games this season, Cologne’s Mueller has 16 goals, 26 assists for 42 points (better than a point per game), setting new personal bests for both goals and assists in a season.  Last season, Mueller scored 11 goals and 14 assists in 41 games, a personal best at the time.

“When I was growing up my father, Michael was a big influence on me becoming a hockey player,” says Marcel.  “(Dad) played hockey and at age four I started playing hockey. I enjoy all sports and started playing handball, but I’m glad I focused on hockey.

In October, Mueller was honoured by fans of the German Sharks as the Most Valuable Player and League MVP by the German hockey paper “Eishockeynews.”

Mueller is very excited about representing Germany in the Olympics where he hopes to replicate the success he had in the DEL.

“I hate losing and want to be the best player I can be,” said Mueller.  “I want to help my team make the playoffs and then, of course, win the Cup. I’m also excited about representing Germany in the Olympics.”

Manhattan, he says, is his preferred destination.

“I’ve been a Rangers fan as long as I can remember, I like the city and if I were to get the opportunity to play in the NHL, the Rangers would be my first choice.  “I’ll of course be happy to play wherever I get the chance to play, (but) for now I will concentrate on being a Cologne Shark. I’m hoping to play my best hockey during the Olympics and then have an opportunity to make it to the NHL.”

NHL scouts are sure to have noticed the 21-year-old center and it appears that he has a very bright hockey future.

“My first idol was Mohammed Ali but after I decided to play hockey, Dany Heatley became my new idol.  (He) is a great player and averages almost a point a game."

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Ivo Jaschick reports on hockey from Germany and across Europe.

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