Natalie Darwitz
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Natalie Darwitz | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Darwitz with the US national team in 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | October 13, 1983 Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Ice hockey executive | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years active | 2023–present | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Employer | PWHL Minnesota | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Natalie Rose Darwitz (born October 13, 1983) is an American ice hockey executive and retired player, currently 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.
Career biography[edit]
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]
Personal life[edit]
She is the youngest of three children (Nikki and Ryan); her parents are Scott and Nancy.[citation needed]
Accomplishments and notes[edit]
- 2005 Bob Allen Women's Player of the Year Award - awarded by USA Hockey[7]
- 2005 NCAA Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player
- 2002 Winter Olympic All Tournament Team - voted on by the International Ice Hockey Federation
- WCHA Team of the Decade (2000s)[8]
Career statistics[edit]
International[edit]
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | United States | WWC |  | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 2000 | United States | WWC | | 5 | 2 | 6 | 8 |
| 2001 | United States | WWC | | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 2002 | United States | OG | | 5 | 7 | 1 | 8 |
| 2004 | United States | WWC | | 5 | 7 | 3 | 10 |
| 2005 | United States | WWC |  | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 2006 | United States | OG |  | 5 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 2007 | United States | WWC | | 5 | 4 | 5 | 9 |
| 2008 | United States | WWC | | 5 | 6 | 4 | 10 |
| 2009 | United States | WWC | | 5 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| International Totals | 50 | 39 | 33 | 72 | |||
Collegiate[edit]
| 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[edit]
| 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[edit]
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Bob Johnson Award". USAHockey.com. USA Hockey. Archived from the original on February 14, 2022. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ "Scoring Leaders" (PDF). IIHF. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-01-05. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Lakeville South Girls Hockey New Coach Announcement". YouTube.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Bob Allen Women's Player of the Year". USA Hockey. Archived from the original on February 14, 2022. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ "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.
Sources[edit]
- Müller, Stephan : International Ice Hockey Encyclopedia 1904-2005 / BoD GmbH Norderstedt, 2005 ISBN 3-8334-4189-5
External links[edit]
- Natalie Darwitz at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)
- Natalie Darwitz - Biography from US Olympic Team.com
- Natalie Darwitz Photo from US Olympic Media Summit Sept 2009
- Biographical information and career statistics from Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com