Natalie Darwitz

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

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. Darwitz was inducted into both the Hockey Hall of Fame and IIHF Hall of Fame in 2024.

Career biography

Playing 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.

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

Coaching 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.

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

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 women's hockey team.

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

Managing 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.

Personal life Darwitz has two siblings, and her parents are Scott and Nancy. She has two sons.

Accomplishments 2002 Winter Olympic All Tournament Team – voted on by the International Ice Hockey Federation 2005 Bob Allen Women's Player of the Year Award – awarded by USA Hockey 2005 NCAA Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player WCHA Team of the Decade (2000s) 2024 Inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame as a player, during the medal ceremony of the 2024 IIHF World Championship. 2024 Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a player, on November 11, 2024.

Career statistics

International

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 2010 United States OG 5 4 7 11 International Totals 55 43 40 83

Collegiate

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

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