Anna Meixner will join the PWHL next year and gets goosebumps thinking about competing in the best on best league, and continuing to show the way for young Austrian players.

When Anna Meixner steps foot on PWHL ice next season, she won't be the first Austrian in league history, but the importance for the moment for Meixner and women's hockey in Austria will be tangible. 

"My dream is coming from Austria, such a small place, I think competing against and playing with the best players in the world, that would just be a dream come true for me," Meixner told The Hockey News from the 2024 Division 1A World Championships in Klagenfurt, Austria. 

The 2023 SDHL league MVP, Meixner has been one of the best players in Europe for years. The 29-year-old scored 26 goals and 54 points in 30 games last season, and had 24 in 22 games this year fro Brynas in an injury shortened campaign. Although she's 29, Meixner looks up to the level of play in the PWHL.

"There's so many players I look up to right now, it gives me goosebumps thinking of that time ahead of me and I'm excited for what's going to come for me," she said.

Meixner was ranked 14th by The Hockey News in the April 2024 PWHL Draft Rankings, and what's to come for the fleet footed forward is a spot challenging for a top six scoring role in the PWHL next year. Meixner has soft hands and a quick release around the net.

"It's such a cool thing, I've followed it from the start, playing in front of that big audience with the best players in the world, to me it would be an absolute honor to be a part of it," said Meixner of the chance to play in the PWHL.

"That probably the cherry of my career if I really would make it. I know there's so many great players still on that draft list. It's an exciting time coming for me and whatever will come my way, I will gladly take it, and I'm just excited for that time."

Meixner would be joining fellow Austrian Theresa Schafzahl, who is a member of PWHL Boston. The duo have been crucial to the competitiveness of Austria on the international stage for the past several seasons. 

This year hosting the Division 1A World Championships in Austria, Schafzahl returned from the PWHL to play, and Meixner donned her typical captain's "C" in front of family and friends in Klagenfurt.

"It's something that fulfils me with pride, it's always a special week to play Worlds, especially at home in front of family, friends, it's definitely something that I'll think of forever," said Meixner. "Obviously I want to step into this role, be a role model for the younger stars, help them to play the best hockey they possibly can and try to be my best."

With Schafzahl already in the PWHL and Meixner on her way, Austrian hockey will have their elite stars in the best league in the world. The nation however, is beginning to see a rise in players competing in the SDHL and North America in the NCAA. It's another positive sign of things to come in Austria.

"I think we have a lot of talent coming up, the youngsters they're already putting a lot of work in, I think the Austrian program could be better, I think we're working on it to become more professional. For now I think we have a lot of talent in Austria, as it shows, people going to the NCAA, Theresa (Schafzahl) who currently plays in the best league in the world, so it's great and the future is bright."

When the PWHL Draft takes place in June, that bright future will certainly include Anna Meixner joining the best league in the world, and showcasing the talent that's existed in Austria for years, along with the bright future to come for Austrians at the pro level.