The 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championships are full of new things, from the November time slot to a country making its top division debut. That country is Austria, which first competed internationally in women’s hockey in 2001 and spent most of the time since bouncing around Division IA, the second-highest division.
After winning the 2025 Women’s Division IA World Championships and placing 11th in the IIHF women’s world rankings, Austria, along with Denmark, was promoted into the top division for 2026.
Storyline
It wasn’t always a given that Austria would make it to Denmark for the tournament despite qualifying. The women’s national team spent much of 2026 in a protracted battle with the Austrian Ice Hockey Association (ÖEHV) over insufficient conditions and compensation. Their grievances were extensive, from hand-me-down equipment to unheated locker rooms to lack of funds for meals during tournaments. The standoff culminated with 11 players, including team captain and former PWHL-er Anna Meixner, boycotting the Women’s European Cup of Nations in August and threatening to do the same for Worlds in November.
In September, the ÖEHV and the women’s national team, with the help of Austria’s public service union, reached a new agreement for compensation and organization that will take effect in 2027. With these issues settled for now, the Austrian players can put their full attention on hockey.
Viewers should be paying attention, too, since Austria could be something of a wild card at this tournament. Most of the teams in the top division are familiar opponents at this point, but few have ever played Austria. For comparison, look at Italy in the 2026 Olympics. The host country surprised the world by making the quarterfinals despite normally competing in Division IB.
Player to watch: Emma Hofbauer, F
Of the Austrian team, North American hockey fans are likely to recognize players with PWHL experience like Anna Meixner and the Seattle Torrent’s Theresa Schafzahl, but there are also several current NCAA players on the roster. One of those is Emma Hofbauer, who currently plays for Providence. The 21-year-old forward has been a regular for Team Austria at both the junior and senior levels, including on the team that qualified for the top division last year.
As a junior with the Friars, Hofbauer has one goal and three assists in eight games and sits tied for second on the team with four points. In her college career, she has seven goals and 11 assists for 18 points in 48 games. Expect to see Hofbauer playing with some of Austria’s top veterans and contributing to the offense.
What success looks like
Simply put, success for Austria means not getting relegated. If they can stay in the top division and avoid finishing as one of the two worst teams in the tournament, that will be a huge step for them. Remaining at the highest level of competition will also continue to bolster women’s hockey in Austria. In addition to the new compensation and organization agreement going into effect in 2027, top division teams get additional benefits, like new uniforms, that can go a long way for a country like Austria.
Group stage schedule
- Nov. 6 vs. Czechia, 3 PM local (9 AM EST)
- Nov. 7 vs. Germany, 7 PM local (1 PM EST)
- Nov. 9 vs. USA, 7 PM local (1 PM EST)
- Nov. 10 vs. Switzerland, 7 PM local (1 PM EST)
Full schedule available at IIHF.com.
