Women’s National Team takes on Olympic champions USA at the World Championship

The ÖEHV team has already shown in Esbjerg that Austria can compete in the top division. In the opening game against Czechia, captain Anna Meixner scored Austria’s historic first goal at a top-division World Championship to give her side an interim 1:0 lead, before the game ended in a 1:4 defeat. Against Germany on Saturday, the team held firm until the final minute, with only an empty-net goal sealing the 0:2 loss.

USA now present the biggest challenge of the tournament on paper. The Americans arrived in Denmark as Olympic champions and defending champions: in February, they beat Canada 2:1 after overtime in the Olympic final in Milan. Superstar Hilary Knight, the all-time leading scorer in Women’s World Championship history, equalised with two minutes remaining, before Megan Keller decided the game in overtime.

Confident start for USA

The USA team is also packed with quality in depth. With the exception of Ohio State University college player Joy Dunne, all players are under contract in the North American professional PWHL league. Theresa Schafzahl (Seattle Torrent) is Austria’s representative there. Accordingly, USA made a confident start to the tournament, beating Switzerland 7:0 and Germany 5:0.

Austria can call on their full squad for this task, with all players available. ORF SPORT + will broadcast the game live from 18:55, with Johannes Karner providing commentary alongside co-commentator Marlene Brunner.

There will not be much time to catch their breath afterwards: the game against Switzerland on Tuesday (19:00, live on ORF SPORT +) concludes the preliminary round. The top four teams from both groups of five advance to the quarter-finals, while the bottom-placed teams in each group play for top-division survival in Herning on 13 November.

Gina Kingsbury, ÖEHV Women’s Sporting Director: "USA are the best team in the world: they are fast, talented and strong on the puck. I think it will be a great experience for our team, from which the players can learn a great deal. We want to challenge USA and put them under pressure."

Anna Meixner, ÖEHV captain: "For the young players, it is a special experience to see the best players in the world on the ice. But the respect cannot be too great. We can look over during the warm-up, but then we have to put those feelings aside and focus fully on the game. Even Hilary Knight laces up her skates just like we do."