Interview with Anna Meixner — Women’s hockey news

After an unforgettable rookie season with the Ottawa Charge — one that took her from first-time North American skater to the Walter Cup Final — Meixner is heading into Year 2 with a new level of confidence and a clear mission: be consistent, contribute more, and keep inspiring the next generation back home in Austria.

Editor’s note: The following interview has been lightly edited for clarity.

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Elisha Côté: How’s your offseason been?

Anna Meixner: It’s been fun and long. I’ve enjoyed quality time with my family, working out every day, seeing people I normally don’t get to see … but I’m definitely ready to come back. I fly on Nov. 9th, so it’s coming up pretty quick.

EC: A topic that’s been on everyone’s mind lately is expansion. How excited are you to have two more teams this season?

AM: Oh, I think it’s super exciting. There’s so much talent in North America and around the world. Expansion after two years shows how many players want to play in the best league in the world, and how many people are interested in watching women’s hockey. For Europe, it’s huge.

EC: What was your biggest takeaway from last season?

AM: The change from the big ice in Europe to the small ice in North America was bigger than I thought it would be. It took me a while to get used to it. And also finding confidence. I came from a small country, moving over to play with the best players in the world, it takes time to realize: You know what? I’m here, and it’s good that I’m here. Going all the way to the Walter Cup was unbelievable. The cities I saw, the people I met … it’s an experience I’ll have all my life.

EC: Do you have any personal goals you’ve set for yourself this season?

AM: Yes, the biggest word for me is consistency. I want to help the team win as many games as possible and be a good teammate in the locker room. I definitely feel I can give more to the team than I did last year, and I hope I can show that.

EC: Do you hope that the PWHL, and maybe your experience in it, can help influence young girls back home in Austria?

AM: Absolutely, in a huge way. Growing up I never had a woman hockey player to look up to. This summer I visited a lot of youth girls’ teams, went on the ice with them, signed autographs … seeing how happy and excited they get because they have an opportunity now to dream about playing professionally, that’s huge. It has never been like that before.

EC: What’s your favorite part about being in Ottawa?

AM: The fans. It’s incredible — playing in front of sold-out rinks gives me so much joy, and I’ll be forever thankful for that. And my teammates — they always put a smile on my face. And I’m excited because me and Ronja [Savolainen] will live together again and have a lot of fun.

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