German international netminder Robert Mueller, who revealed last week that his brain cancer is incurable, returned to the ice to make a substitute appearance for the Cologne Sharks on Sunday.

"I'm unbelievably thankful that the coach did this. It just shows how human he is," Mueller said on the German Ice Hockey League team's website after his introduction seven minutes from time brought a standing ovation from the crowd.

Mueller, 28, had surgery after a brain tumour was detected in 2006.

He played at the World Championship this year but rapid growth in the tumour was diagnosed in August, leading to a further operation.

"Mueller has what we call a glioblastoma in his brain," Mueller's doctor Wolfgang Wick told Spiegel magazine.

"Most patients don't survive a year, and only three per cent survive for longer than five."

Despite the illness, Cologne coach Clayton Beddoes still values Mueller as a squad player.

"Even if Robert is no longer able to give 100 per cent, I know that I can rely on him as a back-up," Beddoes told Spiegel.