Natalie Snodgrass

Natalie Claire Snodgrass (born December 17, 1998) is an American professional ice hockey forward for PWHL Las Vegas of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). She previously played for the Ottawa Charge and the Seattle Torrent of the PWHL and the Minnesota Whitecaps of the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF). She played college ice hockey at UConn where she was a two-year captain and finished as the program's all-time leading goal scorer with 70 goals.

Internationally, Snodgrass represented the United States at the 2015 and 2016 IIHF World Women's U18 Championship, winning gold medals both times. At the 2016 tournament in St. Catharines, she scored both the game-tying goal in the third period and the overtime game-winner as the United States came from behind to defeat Canada 3–2 in the gold medal game. She was named the U.S. Player of the Game and led Team USA in tournament scoring. Snodgrass made her senior national team debut in February 2023 during the Rivalry Series against Canada. She has been described as a power forward with deceptive speed.

Early life Born to Nancy and Joe Snodgrass in Eagan, Minnesota, Snodgrass is the youngest of three kids including sister Emily and brother John.

Snodgrass began skating on her family's backyard pond in Eagan, surrounded by her hockey-playing family members. Snodgrass attended Eastview High School in Eagan, where she played for the Eastview Lightning girls' hockey team. She delivered dramatic late-game heroics in the Class 2A, Section 3 final against rival Eagan, scoring three goals including the game-tying goal with less than 10 seconds remaining in regulation and the overtime winner to send Eastview to the state tournament. She chose UConn in part because she had visited her sister Emily, who played for the Huskies from 2011 to 2015 and scored 70 goals for the program, giving head coach Chris MacKenzie the opportunity to recruit her as his most highly touted recruit in six seasons. During the 2017–18 season, she scored 21 goals and 17 assists in 38 games in her rookie NCAA season, leading Connecticut in points and becoming the first freshman to do so since her sister Emily in the 2011–12 season. For her performance, Snodgrass was named to the Pro Ambitions All-Rookie Team and earned Hockey East All-Star Honorable Mention. She was also a four-time selection as the Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week. She led Connecticut in scoring for the third consecutive season, finishing with 16 goals and 17 assists in 39 games, which ranked tied for seventh in goals and 10th in points in Hockey East. She was named a Hockey East Second Team All-Star and Hockey East Player of the Week on November 18, 2019. In October 2020, she was one of 53 players invited to the U.S. Women's National Team Evaluation Camp held at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minnesota. During the COVID-19-shortened season, Snodgrass played in all 20 games, recording six goals and four assists. She continued as team captain for her final season. "The opportunity to come back to Minnesota after playing five years out east with the UConn Huskies is what ultimately attracted me to the Whitecaps," Snodgrass said. "Getting the chance to play for my home team in front of my friends and family is what's going to make this year a special one for me, and I can't wait to get started."

Snodgrass made an immediate impact in her professional debut, quickly becoming one of the Whitecaps' best players. Her 10 goals tied her for third-most game-winning goals in the regular season. On her 24th birthday, December 17, she scored a hat trick, a moment she described as one of the best of her season, which coincidentally occurred the same day as the Minnesota Vikings' historic comeback victory. For the weekend of December 16–18, 2022, she was named PHF First Star of the Week. The Whitecaps started the season slowly, losing their first four games including two overtime defeats. They subsequently won eight of 10 games, rising to third in the league standings and taking a four-game winning streak into the all-star break.

In February 2023, Snodgrass was selected as one of six Whitecaps players to participate in the PHF All-Star Tournament in Toronto, where she played for Team USA. She assisted on a goal by team captain Sydney Brodt during the tournament. Minnesota had been 0–4 in their previous meetings against the Pride during the regular season. She led the Whitecaps with seven shots on goal in the game. In the championship game, Snodgrass assisted on goals by Brooke Madsen in the second period and Jonna Albers in the third period. In the second period, Snodgrass made a "sensational pass in front to Brooke Madsen, and Madsen had only to reach out and redirect the puck" to tie the game 2–2.

Ottawa Charge (2023–25) After going undrafted in the inaugural 2023 PWHL Draft, Snodgrass signed as a free agent with PWHL Ottawa following a strong showing at the team's training camp. Snodgrass made her PWHL debut on January 13, 2024, in Toronto against the Toronto Sceptres, scoring her first career PWHL goal in her first game. The goal came on a 3-on-1 rush in the second period after a Toronto line change, assisted by goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer, who recorded the first goaltender assist in PWHL history with a stretch pass. Snodgrass's goal restored Ottawa's three-goal advantage at 5:40 of the second period in what became a 5–1 victory, marking Ottawa's first win in franchise history.

During the 2023–24 season, Snodgrass played in 23 games, recording one goal and five assists for six points. On June 5, 2024, she signed a one-year contract extension with Ottawa, becoming the first player in the PWHL to sign a contract extension in the 2024 offseason. She averaged approximately seven minutes of ice time per game and finished with a plus/minus of -2.

Seattle Torrent (2025–26)

On June 18, 2025, Snodgrass signed a one-year contract with the Seattle Torrent, one of two PWHL expansion teams added for the 2025–26 season. Seattle general manager Meghan Turner said, "Natalie is a strong skater with the versatility to play in a number of different roles. She competes hard every shift and brings a consistent work ethic that makes her a valuable addition to our group. Her ability to adapt in all situations will make her an important piece of our lineup." Snodgrass reunited with former Ottawa teammates Danielle Serdachny and Aneta Tejralová in Seattle. Snodgrass made her debut for the Torrent during their first game of the season against fellow expansion team Vancouver Goldeneyes at Pacific Coliseum, losing 4–3 in overtime.

Through the first month of the season, Snodgrass was a regular in the Torrent lineup, playing on a line with Lexie Adzija and Mikyla Grant-Mentis. Snodgrass made her Torrent debut during the team's inaugural home game on November 28, 2025, against the two-time defending Walter Cup champion Minnesota Frost at Climate Pledge Arena drew 16,014 fans, setting multiple attendance records. The attendance broke the record for the largest crowd for a women's hockey game in a U.S. arena, surpassing the previous U.S. arena record of 15,359 set during an NCAA game between the University of Wisconsin and St. Cloud State on January 14, 2017. Despite the historic turnout, the Torrent lost 3–0 to Minnesota.

PWHL Las Vegas (2026–present) On June 21, 2026, she signed a one-year contract with PWHL Las Vegas.

International play Junior Snodgrass represented the United States at the 2015 IIHF World Women's U18 Championship in Buffalo, New York, winning gold on home soil. The United States defeated Canada 3–2 in overtime in the gold medal game, with Jincy Dunne scoring the game-winner on the power play 51 seconds into the extra period. The following year, Snodgrass returned to the U.S. Under-18 Team for the 2016 IIHF World Women's U18 Championship in St. Catharines, Ontario. She was named Team USA's leading scorer for the tournament. With Canada leading 2–0 deep into the game, Snodgrass sparked the comeback by scoring a wraparound goal to tie the game in the third period. At 1:47 of overtime, she backhanded a rebound into the net from the top of the crease to secure the gold medal for the United States. She was named the U.S. Player of the Game. She dedicated the victory to Patrick and his family, saying, "It definitely felt like Patrick was there during the game with us, pushing us. It was an awesome feeling to be able to honor him." She publicly declined the invitation on March 24, 2017, standing in solidarity with the striking players. On Twitter, she wrote, "Today I will do what others won't so tomorrow I can do what others can't. I said no to USAH & will not play in the 2017WC #BeBoldForChange". Snodgrass was one of dozens of players who rejected USA Hockey's replacement offers, with many sharing their decisions on social media.

Senior Snodgrass made her senior national team debut in February 2023 during the Rivalry Series against Canada. She was one of five players making their national team debut for the U.S. during the series.

Style of play Snodgrass has been described as a power forward with deceptive speed, but has an occasional tendency to be undisciplined on the ice.

Personal life Snodgrass studied health sciences at the University of Connecticut. Growing up in Minnesota, where more than 13,500 young women play hockey, she was inspired by hometown hero Natalie Darwitz, a three-time Olympian and one of the greatest players to come from the state.

Career statistics Regular Season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2017–18 University of Connecticut Hockey East 38 21 17 38 22 — — — — — 2018–19 University of Connecticut Hockey East 36 15 14 29 26 — — — — — 2019–20 University of Connecticut Hockey East 39 16 17 33 34 — — — — — 2020–21 University of Connecticut Hockey East 20 6 4 10 6 — — — — — 2021–22 University of Connecticut Hockey East 37 12 17 29 22 — — — — — 2022–23 Minnesota Whitecaps PHF 22 10 10 20 4 3 1 2 3 0 2023–24 PWHL Ottawa PWHL 23 1 5 6 10 — — — — — 2024–25 Ottawa Charge PWHL 21 1 1 2 2 — — — — — 2025–26 Seattle Torrent PWHL 29 2 3 5 4 — — — — — PHF totals 22 10 10 20 4 3 1 2 3 0 PWHL totals 73 4 9 13 16 — — — — —