JANUARY 22, 2010 - 12:35:37 PM PST FROM THE ICE TO THE FELT by: Nick Greenizan; Peace Arch News

Open the door, and you’ll likely find all the trappings of a regular living space – a couch in the living room, TV in the corner, photos on the wall.

Look hard enough, and somewhere you’ll probably find a large duffel bag, stuffed with hockey gear. All of it untouched.

"I had an apartment full of things, had everything there. But my mom got sick, so I just grabbed my keys and came home," poker champ Greg Mueller said.

That was a decade ago.

"I’ve never been back."

•••

A lot has happened in the 10 years since.

Mueller’s mother, whose battle with breast cancer prompted his flight back to the Peninsula in the first place, passed away; which in turn led him to give up his professional hockey career for the rec-league variety; and he picked up a new game, too: Poker.

Before coming home in '99, Mueller, 38, spent nearly 10 years in the German professional leagues, where he’d played since going overseas at 19. While with a team in Munich, he even played in the Spengler Cup – the annual Christmastime tournament that pits Canada’s national team against some of Europe’s best clubs.

But the South Surrey resident, who was born in Germany, emigrated to the Peninsula with his family as a toddler and played "pretty much every sport except baseball and basketball," gave it all up and moved home in order to be with his family.

Went all in, you could say.

"(Europe) was awesome, just an awesome experience... but I just lost the passion to play after that," he said.

He dabbled in a few different jobs upon his return home – including acting, where he’s landed a few commercials – but mostly spent time with his father, who along with his mother, was the original owner of Moby Dick Restaurant on Marine Drive. His father eventually sold the restaurant to a friend, and it was about that time that Mueller took a serious interest in poker.

He was no stranger to the game, having spent many a long road trip playing the game with his hockey teammates.

"That’s where I learned to play cards, at the back of the bus, having a couple beers," said Mueller. "And I’ve always had a knack for thinking games."

He also has a knack for reading people, as evidenced by the $1.7 million he’s won at events across the world, and highlighted by two World Series of Poker bracelets he won last summer.

"I’m more of a live player, as opposed to online, where you’re playing the percentages and the stats," Mueller explained.

"I’d rather look at a guy, talk to him, and see if he’s got the hand or not. People make the mistake of talking to me, and they end up giving away a lot of information.

"There are books and videos out there, but I’m the wrong guy for books. I just go out there and a lot of it’s instincts. Sometimes I’ll have two kings and I’ll make a real thin call for all my chips, and sometimes I just get rid of it. My instincts are pretty good."

Are they ever. Mueller has parlayed his success at the tables into a number of business ventures, including an ownership stake in the popular Players Chophouse in downtown Vancouver.

Though Mueller’s natural competitive instincts often take over during a game, he said staying composed is important. It’s a lesson he learned – where else? – on the hockey rink.

"With poker, a lot of it is ego. If I bluff you, you want to call just to show me that I can’t bluff you, but then maybe I’m not bluffing, and you get beat," he said.

"It’s just like in hockey. If you get an elbow from a guy, you can’t just punch him in the face or you’re going to take a penalty and hurt your team. You have to wait for the right time to get him back."

His competitive streak served him well last summer, when he captured his first WSOP bracelet.

Mueller was playing at the final table when he bluffed another player, who bought it and folded a big hand. Mueller, of course, showed him what he had – nothing.

"He was a really nice guy, so I felt a little bad, but he got so rattled. He would’ve had me, and then he got so mad that for the next two or three hands he was playing on emotions, and I took all his chips."

Such an act can backfire, however, Mueller cautioned. One instance that sticks in his mind is the first time he sat across from poker great Phil ("Poker Brat") Hellmuth.

"I remember that I bluffed him, and he said, ‘You hockey players are aggressive. I’m going to teach you a lesson.’

"But last summer, when I won my first bracelet, he came over and gave me a big hug. He’s a great guy."

And even with all his success – all the pocket aces, successful bluffs and big pots – it’s the two World Series wins that Mueller holds most dear.

"The World Series is like the Cadillac of poker tournaments," he said. "And to win a bracelet is like winning the Stanley Cup."

Coincidentally, the famous trophy was present when Mueller won his first bracelet. The World Series, held at the Rio All-Suites Casino, happened to be going on the same week the National Hockey League held its awards show, next door at the Palms.

Mueller’s event coincided with an NHL charity tournament at the Rio, at which the Stanley Cup was on display.

"Mats Sundin, Roberto Luongo – they were all playing at the table right beside me... it was so weird to see both my sports coming together like that," Mueller said.

A day later, during his own winner’s ceremony, he experienced another moment of hockey/poker synergy.

"There were thousands of people there, I had a big Canadian flag behind me, and the anthem was playing... it was pretty cool, and just reminded me of a hockey game," he said. "It gave me chills, I had goosebumps."

Mueller will hit the road this spring for a number of events, and is hoping for an invite to NBC’s Head’s Up poker tournament, which takes place at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas and will feature the world’s best players alongside celebrities such as Seinfeld’s Jason Alexander and former Major League Baseball pitcher Orel Hershisher.

"There’s always a hotspot, whether it’s Australia or the Bahamas, or Las Vegas, or wherever. You just put up the money and play," Mueller said.

"If I’d have stuck with hockey, maybe I’d be done by now, but with poker, you can play if you’re 80 years old or 21, in shape or out of shape, white, black, Asian, male or female... and on any given day, anybody can win. That’s what keeps it entertaining, and I’m just enjoying it."