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Natalie Darwitz

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Natalie Darwitz
Hockey Hall of Fame, 2024
Darwitz with the US national team in 2010
Born (1983-10-13) October 13, 1983 (age 41)
Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Height 5 ft 3 in (160 cm)
Weight 135 lb (61 kg; 9 st 9 lb)
Position Forward
Shot Right
Played for University of Minnesota
Minnesota Whitecaps
Coached for Hamline University
University of Minnesota
National team  United States
Playing career 1998–2010
Coaching career 2007–2023
Website Official website
Medal record
Representing  United States
Women's ice hockey
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2002 Salt Lake City Tournament
Silver medal – second place 2010 Vancouver Tournament
Bronze medal – third place 2006 Turin Tournament
World Championship
Gold medal – first place 2005 Sweden Tournament
Gold medal – first place 2008 China Tournament
Gold medal – first place 2009 Finland Tournament
Silver medal – second place 1999 Finland Tournament
Silver medal – second place 2000 Canada Tournament
Silver medal – second place 2001 United States Tournament
Silver medal – second place 2004 Canada Tournament
Silver medal – second place 2007 Canada Tournament
4 Nations Cup
Gold medal – first place 2003 Sweden Tournament
Gold medal – first place 2008 United States Tournament
Silver medal – second place 1998 Finland Tournament
Silver medal – second place 1999 Canada Tournament
Silver medal – second place 2000 United States Tournament
Silver medal – second place 2002 Canada Tournament
Silver medal – second place 2004 United States Tournament
Silver medal – second place 2005 Finland Tournament
Silver medal – second place 2006 Canada Tournament
Silver medal – second place 2007 Sweden Tournament

Natalie Rose Darwitz (born October 13, 1983) is an American ice hockey executive, coach, and retired player, most recently serving as general manager of PWHL Minnesota in the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL).[1]

Darwitz was a member of the US national ice hockey team for more than a decade and served as team captain for several seasons, beginning with the 2007–08 season. Her decorated playing career was highlighted by three world championship gold medals, two Olympic silver medals, and an Olympic bronze medal. She was inducted in the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2024.

Career biography

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Darwitz began skating at the age of five, and attended Eagan High School. From there, she was a veteran of ten years on the US National Team. She competed in two Olympics, leading the 2002 Olympics in goal scoring and scoring the game-winning assist in the bronze-medal game in the 2006 Games. In three years of NCAA Hockey at her alma mater, Minnesota, she won back-to-back national championships, scored the championship goal in her final game with 1:08 to go versus Harvard (4–3), won the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA women's ice hockey tournament Frozen Four, was named US Women's Player of the Year, and competed in an additional three IIHF Women's World Championship.

At the 2008 Worlds, Darwitz led the tournament in scoring and was named the Best Forward in the World by the International Ice Hockey Federation. She was also awarded the Bob Johnson Award by USA Hockey as the best male or female player representing the United States in international play.[2]

In August 2008, Darwitz was named assistant coach of her alma mater, the University of Minnesota's, women's ice hockey team. At the conclusion of the 08–09 NCAA campaign, she left to return as a full-time member of the US National Team.

Darwitz was the second leading scorer at the 2009 IIHF tournament with 10 points (three goals, seven assists).[3]

On August 2, 2011, she announced her new position as the head coach of the Lakeville South High School girls' ice hockey team.[4] The Lakeville South Cougars finished the 2011/2012 season with a record of 21–1–6.[citation needed] and the 2012/2013 season with a record of 16–2–9.[citation needed]

From the 2015–16 through 2020–21 seasons, she served as the head coach of the Hamline University women's ice hockey team. They finished the 2017–18 season by going to the Frozen Four and placing 3rd in the nation. On July 29, 2021, she was hired as an assistant coach for her alma mater, the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey team.[5]

On June 7, 2023, she was announced as co-head coach of the Hill-Murray women's hockey team, along with Jake Bobrowski.[6]

On September 1, 2023, the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) announced that Darwitz would be the general manager for the new PWHL Minnesota team.[1] Darwitz and PWHL Minnesota parted ways in June 2024, shortly after winning the league's inaugural championship.[7]

Personal life

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Darwitz has two siblings, her parents are Scott and Nancy.[8]

Accomplishments

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Career statistics

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International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts
1999 United States WWC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 5 2 1 3
2000 United States WWC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 5 2 6 8
2001 United States WWC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 5 3 1 4
2002 United States OG 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 5 7 1 8
2004 United States WWC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 5 7 3 10
2005 United States WWC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5 2 2 4
2006 United States OG 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 5 3 3 6
2007 United States WWC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 5 4 5 9
2008 United States WWC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5 6 4 10
2009 United States WWC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5 3 7 10
International Totals 50 39 33 72

Collegiate

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    Regular season
Season Team League GP G A Pts
2002–03 Minnesota Golden Gophers WCHA 33 33 35 68
2003–04 Minnesota Golden Gophers WCHA 26 27 37 64
2004–05 Minnesota Golden Gophers WCHA 40 42 72 114
NCAA Totals 99 102 144 246

Professional

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    Regular season
Season Team League GP G A Pts
2006–07 Minnesota Whitecaps WWHL 13 11 10 21
2007–08 Minnesota Whitecaps WWHL 7 4 7 11
WWHL Totals 20 15 17 32

References

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  1. ^ a b "Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) Announces General Managers for Six Teams". Professional Women's Hockey League (Press release). September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  2. ^ "Bob Johnson Award". USAHockey.com. USA Hockey. Archived from the original on February 14, 2022. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  3. ^ "Scoring Leaders" (PDF). IIHF. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 5, 2018. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  4. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Lakeville South Girls Hockey New Coach Announcement". YouTube. August 4, 2011.
  5. ^ Greder, Andy (July 29, 2021). "Former U star Natalie Darwitz rejoins Gophers women's hockey staff". TwinCities.com. Pioneer Press. Archived from the original on February 14, 2022. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  6. ^ La Vaque, David (June 7, 2023). "Natalie Darwitz Re-Emerges Quickly as New Hill-Murray Girls Hockey Coach". StarTribune.com. StarTribune. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  7. ^ Tribune, Rachel Blount Star. "Natalie Darwitz out as PWHL Minnesota's GM after championship run". Star Tribune. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  8. ^ "Natalie Darwitz". www.teamusa.com. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  9. ^ "Bob Allen Women's Player of the Year". USA Hockey. Archived from the original on February 14, 2022. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  10. ^ "WCHA Top 10 Players of the First 10 Years" (PDF). WCHA.com. Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 14, 2022. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  11. ^ Wauthy, Alex (February 6, 2024). "'You wanted to be her': Natalie Darwitz's Road from an 18-year-old Olympian to IIHF Hall of Fame Inductee". The Hockey News. Toronto, Ontario. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  12. ^ O'Hara, Nolan (January 15, 2024). "Former Gophers coach, player Natalie Darwitz named to IIHF Hall of Fame". Sports Illustrated. New York, New York. Retrieved May 15, 2024.

Sources

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  • Müller, Stephan : International Ice Hockey Encyclopedia 1904–2005 / BoD GmbH Norderstedt, 2005 ISBN 3-8334-4189-5
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by IIHF World Women's Championship Best Forward
2008 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Captain, United States Olympic Hockey Team
2010 		Succeeded by
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