Ice hockey hero targets sweet taste of success

BERLIN－Germany's ice hockey captain Moritz Muller doesn't mind talking about what most professional athletes don't talk about: sweets.

While coaches and nutritionists mention the disadvantages of sugar, Muller's memories are connected to the unexpected help of Chinese food company representatives attending a trade fair in Cologne decades ago.

Today, sweets are only allowed in small portions for Muller, but "they once helped me to make progress in ice hockey, start a long career, and be part of Germany's ice hockey golden years".

The team's surprising silver medal at the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, after a narrow 4-3 final loss to Russia, represents the climax of that upswing. Ranked fifth in the world, German ice hockey has never been regarded so highly.

"It might be a challenge to repeat that success, but we are full of anticipation regarding the competition in China," the 35-year-old says.

Twenty years ago, Muller's passion for the sport hit some rough ice in the form of financial difficulties. He could hardly afford the rent of his small room while trying to make his way into professional hockey at a Cologne club.

Losing his mother at an early age, Muller left home at the age of 15 to follow what he describes as his life's mission.

"It was about surviving 10 days. I shared a room with three Chinese guys and they supported me with sweets. That was more or less all the food I had, because I had to spend the rest of my money on rent," Muller says, with a smile on his face.

The Chinese sweets helped him to continue and, in the end, break into the squad at the Cologne Sharks.

Muller changed his playing position from a forward to a defenseman and experienced the turnaround in German ice hockey fortunes after former NHL professional Marco Sturm took over as the team's head coach in 2015.

"We learned to not just be happy to get to the majors, but to develop ambitions to win something," he remembers.

In his view, this is what helped to develop a solid team spirit. Sturm taught the squad to want more and to start games with confidence. Muller says the upswing was a mentality issue.

After three years, Sturm left the job to join the National Hockey League in the United States, accepting the position of assistant coach of the Los Angeles Kings.

Today it's on the shoulders of Finnish head coach Toni Soderholm to continue what his silver medal-winning predecessor started.

German hockey has improved significantly in recent years, especially at the league level. Meanwhile, several Germans play for NHL clubs and the national coach can choose from more than 150 topflight players.

The Olympic Games, in Muller's view, will always be the highlight of an athlete's career.

"I am grateful for the experience in 2018. Now there is a new tournament ahead and we can't wait to start," the German captain says.

Ice hockey is, and will always be, his world, he adds. "The sports taught me so much about life's important values. Humility, respect for older people and the disadvantaged. I feel huge gratitude for what I have achieved," Muller says.

Xinhua