Munich - Although he has been tagged as possibly the greatest talent ever in German hockey for many years, it was an accident that made Marcel Goc enter the big international stage at age 17.

18,500 spectators at the Kölnarena, Cologne/Germany, were holding their breaths when first-line center Mark MacKay was helped off the ice during Germany's opening game at the IIHF Hockey World Championships last April. MacKay´s tournament-ending collarbone injury made room for a coming German star to shine.

Only minutes into a tournament he had entered as fifth centerman and reserve player, Marcel Goc stepped into the international spotlight. Of course he was already listed 12th among European Skaters by the NHL´s Central Scouting Bureau Rankings at that time, but had never been able to showcase his skills at the senior level in front of an international audience before.

And it was not because he was the only skater on the ice wearing a mandatory junior facemask that Goc stood out. His skills and competitiveness turned several heads at the World Championships and had European and National Hockey League scouts noticing.

"He does everything well. He has strength in all things," German Head Coach Hans Zach said. "Marcel does not have the greatest shot and he's not the greatest skater, but overall, he´s very good."

And being a complete player is definitely more important than to excel at any one thing. Goc is a driven, inventive all-round player. At the Worlds, he finished fourth among faceoff-leaders with a .697 percentage, just behind Maple Leafs Captain Mats Sundin and ahead of players such as the Ottawa Senators' Marian Hossa of Slovakia, American Jeff Halpern of the Washington Capitals and Canadian Kris Draper of the Detroit Red Wings.

Goc has also got good vision and is an intelligent player who can read the game pretty well and knows how to adjust properly.

Born in Calw, Germany, on August 24, 1983, the youngster has already played two full seasons with the Schwenningen Wild Wings of the German Elite League (DEL). He has participated in several international tournaments, too, including the Olympic Preliminaries and a number of IIHF World Championships at the junior level.

Considering Goc's youth and the exhaustingly long season he'd had, German Head Coach Hans Zach had a very hard time figuring out whether to nominate the 17-year-old for the 2001 World Championships. But Zach has always been a big promoter of young talents. Moreover, he was so convinced about Goc's talent and competitiveness that he finally decided to keep him on the roster.

"He's a really good player and in my opinion has good chances to cause some impact in the NHL such as (San Jose´s) Marco Sturm," Zach remarked. "I'm proud of him, and as a player he has all my confidence. Goc is the greatest forward in German hockey."

Added Canadian Rich Chernomaz, head coach of Schwenningen: "He is by far the best young player I have seen in my life. And that includes my time in Canada."

Marcel Goc might become only the second German-born player ever to be drafted in the first round, following in the footsteps of Marco Sturm (21st overall, San Jose Sharks 1996).

His older brother Sascha Goc already playing in the States. The 22-year-old defender, who was picked 159th overall by New Jersey in 1997, currently earns his money with the Albany River Rats of the AHL and also made his NHL debut with the New Jersey Devils in the past season.

Said Sascha: "Marcel is more talented than me. I think he will have a very good career in North America."

And there´s yet another Goc waiting in line. 13-year-old brother Nicky is an aspiring youngster with one of Schwenningen's junior teams…

Marcel´s career Stats
Season Team League GP G A TP PIM
2000-01 Schwenningen DEL 58 13 28 41 12
1999-00 Schwenningen DEL 51 0 3 3 4