League founded

A new era begins in domestic women’s ice hockey

Women's national team fell short of expectations at home World Championships in Klagenfurt.Anna Meixner looks back on the tournament.New domestic women's league is being created.

There was talk of promotion to the World Group for the first time before the home World Championships in Klagenfurt. The national women's ice hockey team clearly missed out on this goal, finishing fourth in the end. "In sporting terms, it wasn't what we set out to do, I have to say that clearly," summarizes Anna Meixner. But: "The interest was enormous! I've never received so many messages."

The importance of women's ice hockey has definitely increased in Austria, as the latest developments show. The founding of the Austrian Women's Hockey League marks the beginning of a new era. The domestic association, together with the Hungarian and ICE Hockey League, is launching the new league.

An extremely positive development, it was long overdue. We're in the EWHL anyway, and we'll almost certainly also be a founding member of the AWHL

Eva Verworner, Trainerin Salzburg Eagles

"The focus will be on the professionalization of the existing European Women's Hockey League and the newly created Austrian Women's Hockey League," reads a press release. Exact details are yet to be announced, with play set to begin in the fall. In all likelihood, the Salzburg Eagles will be involved: "An extremely positive development, it was long overdue. We're in the EWHL anyway, and we'll almost certainly be a founding member of the AWHL," says Eagles coach Eva Verworner optimistically.

"Tears in my eyes"
 The long-awaited step towards professionalism for Meixner: "I almost had tears in my eyes when it was announced. As you've seen, we're still missing little things at the World Cup, but in two to three years we'll have reached a completely different level."