{{short description|American ice hockey player and executive (born 1983)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Use American English|date=May 2024}} {{Infobox ice hockey player | image = Natalie Darwitz 2010.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Darwitz with the US national team in 2010 | position = Forward | shoots = Right | height_ft = 5 | height_in = 3 | weight_lb = 135 | played_for = University of Minnesota<br />Minnesota Whitecaps | coached_for = Hamline University<br />University of Minnesota | league = | sex = f | ntl_team = USA | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|10|13}} | birth_place = Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S. | career_start = 1998 | career_end = 2010 | career_start_coach = 2007 | career_end_coach = 2023 | halloffame = 2024 | website = {{Official website|https://www.darwitzhockey.com}} | medaltemplates ={{MedalCountry | {{ihw|USA}} }} {{MedalSport | Women's ice hockey}} {{MedalOlympic}} {{MedalSilver | 2002 Salt Lake City | Tournament}} {{MedalSilver | 2010 Vancouver | Tournament}} {{MedalBronze | 2006 Turin | Tournament}} {{MedalCompetition | World Championship}} {{MedalGold | 2005 Sweden | Tournament}} {{MedalGold | 2008 China | Tournament}} {{MedalGold | 2009 Finland | Tournament}} {{MedalSilver | 1999 Finland | Tournament}} {{MedalSilver | 2000 Canada | Tournament}} {{MedalSilver | 2001 United States | Tournament}} {{MedalSilver | 2004 Canada | Tournament}} {{MedalSilver | 2007 Canada | Tournament}} {{MedalCompetition | 4 Nations Cup}} {{MedalGold | 2003 Sweden | Tournament}} {{MedalGold | 2008 United States | Tournament}} {{MedalSilver | 1998 Finland | Tournament}} {{MedalSilver | 1999 Canada | Tournament}} {{MedalSilver | 2000 United States | Tournament}} {{MedalSilver | 2002 Canada | Tournament}} {{MedalSilver | 2004 United States | Tournament}} {{MedalSilver | 2005 Finland | Tournament}} {{MedalSilver | 2006 Canada | Tournament}} {{MedalSilver | 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 the Minnesota Frost in the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL).<ref name="pwhl-mn-gm">{{cite web |author= |date=September 1, 2023 |title=Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) Announces General Managers for Six Teams |url=https://news.thepwhl.com/gm-announcement/ |access-date=September 1, 2023 |website=Professional Women's Hockey League |type=Press release}}</ref>
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.<ref name="bob-johnson-award">{{cite web |url=https://www.usahockey.com/layout_container/show_layout_tab?layout_container_id=16921001&page_node_id=837446&tab_element_id=54968 |title=Bob Johnson Award |website=USAHockey.com |publisher=USA Hockey |access-date=February 14, 2022 |archive-date=February 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214182324/https://www.usahockey.com/layout_container/show_layout_tab?layout_container_id=16921001&page_node_id=837446&tab_element_id=54968 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Darwitz was the second leading scorer at the 2009 IIHF tournament with 10 points (three goals, seven assists).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://stats.iihf.com/Hydra/178/IHW178000_85B_7_0.pdf |title=Scoring Leaders |access-date=December 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105233720/https://reports.iihf.hockey/Hydra/178/IHW178000_85B_7_0.pdf |archive-date=January 5, 2018 |work=IIHF |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== 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.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/WT9M-k9oG0k Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20160630200932/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WT9M-k9oG0k Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WT9M-k9oG0k| title = Lakeville South Girls Hockey New Coach Announcement | website=YouTube| date = August 4, 2011 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> The Lakeville South Cougars finished the 2011/2012 season with a record of 21–1–6.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}} and the 2012/2013 season with a record of 16–2–9.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}
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.<ref name="gophers-assistant-coach">{{cite web |url=https://www.twincities.com/2021/07/29/former-u-star-natalie-darwitz-rejoins-gophers-womens-hockey-staff/ |title=Former U star Natalie Darwitz rejoins Gophers women's hockey staff |last=Greder |first=Andy |date=July 29, 2021 |website=TwinCities.com |publisher=Pioneer Press |access-date=February 14, 2022 |archive-date=February 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214172635/https://www.twincities.com/2021/07/29/former-u-star-natalie-darwitz-rejoins-gophers-womens-hockey-staff/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
On June 7, 2023, she was announced as co-head coach of the Hill-Murray women's hockey team, along with Jake Bobrowski.<ref name="hill-murray-coach">{{cite web |url=https://www.startribune.com/natalie-darwitz-jake-bobrowski-high-school-girls-hockey-coach-hill-murray-gophers/600280867/ |title=Natalie Darwitz Re-Emerges Quickly as New Hill-Murray Girls Hockey Coach |last=La Vaque |first=David |date=June 7, 2023 |website=StarTribune.com |publisher=StarTribune |access-date=June 8, 2023}}</ref>
=== 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.<ref name="pwhl-mn-gm" /> Darwitz and PWHL Minnesota parted ways in June 2024, shortly after winning the league's inaugural championship.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tribune |first=Rachel Blount Star |title=Natalie Darwitz out as PWHL Minnesota's GM after championship run |url=https://www.startribune.com/natalie-darwitz-pwhl-minnesota-departure-gm-walter-cup/600371826/ |access-date=June 7, 2024 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref>
== Personal life == Darwitz has two siblings, and her parents are Scott and Nancy.<ref name="team usa profile">{{cite web |title=Natalie Darwitz |url=https://www.teamusa.com/profiles/natalie-darwitz |website=www.teamusa.com |access-date=June 3, 2024}}</ref>
== 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<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usahockey.com/layout_container/show_layout_tab?layout_container_id=16921236&page_node_id=837446&tab_element_id=54969 |title=Bob Allen Women's Player of the Year |publisher=USA Hockey |access-date=February 14, 2022 |archive-date=February 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214234958/https://www.usahockey.com/layout_container/show_layout_tab?layout_container_id=16921236&page_node_id=837446&tab_element_id=54969 |url-status=live }}</ref> * '''2005''' NCAA Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player * WCHA Team of the Decade (2000s)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wcha.com/pdf/wguide2122/Top%20Players%20in%20the%20First%2010%20Years.pdf |title=WCHA Top 10 Players of the First 10 Years |website=WCHA.com |publisher=Western Collegiate Hockey Association |access-date=February 14, 2022 |archive-date=February 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214164134/https://wcha.com/pdf/wguide2122/Top%20Players%20in%20the%20First%2010%20Years.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> * '''2024''' Inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame as a player, during the medal ceremony of the 2024 IIHF World Championship.<ref>{{cite news|title='You wanted to be her': Natalie Darwitz's Road from an 18-year-old Olympian to IIHF Hall of Fame Inductee|last=Wauthy|first=Alex|date=February 6, 2024|work=The Hockey News|location=Toronto, Ontario|url=https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/you-wanted-to-be-her-natalie-darwitzs-long-road-from-an-18-year-old-olympian-to-iihf-hall-of-fame-inductee|access-date=May 15, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Former Gophers coach, player Natalie Darwitz named to IIHF Hall of Fame|last=O'Hara|first=Nolan|date=January 15, 2024|magazine=Sports Illustrated|location=New York, New York|url=https://www.si.com/college/minnesota/hockey/former-gophers-coach-player-natalie-darwitz-named-to-iihf-hall-of-fame|access-date=May 15, 2024}}</ref> * '''2024''' Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a player, on November 11, 2024.<ref>{{cite news|title=Darwitz and Wendell-Pohl Enter Hockey Hall of Fame Tonight|last=Kennedy|first=Ian|author-link=Ian Kennedy|date=November 11, 2024|work=The Hockey News|location=Toronto, Ontario|url=https://thehockeynews.com/womens/other-news/darwitz-and-wendell-pohl-enter-hockey-hall-of-fame-tonight|access-date=November 12, 2024}}</ref>
== Career statistics ==
=== International ===
{| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" width="75%" style="text-align:center" |- style="background:#e0e0e0;" ! Year ! Team ! Event ! Result ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1999 | United States || WWC | {{silver2}} || 5 || 2 || 1 || 3 |- | 2000 || United States || WWC | {{silver2}} || 5 || 2 || 6 || 8 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2001 || United States || WWC | {{silver2}} || 5 || 3 || 1 || 4 |- | 2002 | United States | OG | {{silver2}} || 5 || 7 || 1 || 8 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2004 || United States || WWC | {{silver2}} || 5 || 7 || 3 || 10 |- | 2005 || United States || WWC | {{gold1}} || 5 || 2 || 2 || 4 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2006 | United States | OG | {{bronze3}} || 5 || 3 || 3 || 6 |- | 2007 || United States || WWC | {{silver2}} || 5 || 4 || 5 || 9 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2008 || United States || WWC | {{gold1}} || 5 || 6 || 4 || 10 |- | 2009 || United States || WWC | {{gold1}} || 5 || 3 || 7 || 10 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 2010 | United States | OG | {{silver2}} || 5 || 4 || 7 || 11 |- !colspan="4" | International Totals !! 55 !! 43 !! 40 !! 83 |}
=== Collegiate ===
{| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" width="75%" style="text-align:center" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="4" | Regular season |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season !! Team !! League !! GP !! G !! A !! Pts |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2002–03 | Minnesota Golden Gophers | WCHA | 33 || 33 || 35 || 68 |- | 2003–04 | Minnesota Golden Gophers || WCHA | 26 || 27 || 37 || 64 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2004–05 | Minnesota Golden Gophers || WCHA | 40 || 42 || 72 || 114 |- style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Minnesota Golden Gophers|color=white}}" ! colspan="3" | NCAA Totals !! 99 !! 102 !! 144 !! 246 |}
=== Professional ===
{| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" width="75%" style="text-align:center" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="4" | Regular season |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season !! Team !! League !! GP !! G !! A !! Pts |- | 2006–07 | Minnesota Whitecaps || WWHL || 13 || 11 || 10 || 21 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2007–08 | Minnesota Whitecaps || WWHL || 7 || 4 || 7 || 11 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" | WWHL Totals !! 20 !! 15 !! 17 !! 32 |}
== References == {{reflist}}
== Sources == * Müller, Stephan : International Ice Hockey Encyclopedia 1904–2005 / BoD GmbH Norderstedt, 2005 {{ISBN|3-8334-4189-5}}
== External links == * {{SR/Olympics profile|da/natalie-darwitz-1}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080925195634/http://hockey.teamusa.org/athlete/athlete/1328 Natalie Darwitz – Biography from US Olympic Team.com ] * [http://www.ctvolympics.ca/photos/galleries/id=15586/gallery.html#/15566 Natalie Darwitz Photo from US Olympic Media Summit Sept 2009] * {{Ice hockey stats}}
{{s-start}} {{s-ach}} {{Succession box| before = Hayley Wickenheiser | title = IIHF World Women's Championship Best Forward | years = 2008 | after = Hayley Wickenheiser}} {{Succession box| before = Krissy Wendell | title = Captain, United States Olympic Hockey Team | years = 2010 | after = Meghan Duggan}} {{S-end}}
{{Minnesota Frost}} {{Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Darwitz, Natalie}} Category:1983 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century American sportswomen Category:21st-century American sportswomen Category:American women's ice hockey forwards Category:Hockey Hall of Fame inductees Category:Ice hockey players from Minnesota Category:Ice hockey players at the 2002 Winter Olympics Category:Ice hockey players at the 2006 Winter Olympics Category:Ice hockey players at the 2010 Winter Olympics Category:IIHF Hall of Fame inductees Category:Medalists at the 2002 Winter Olympics Category:Medalists at the 2006 Winter Olympics Category:Medalists at the 2010 Winter Olympics Category:Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey players Category:Minnesota Whitecaps players Category:Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in ice hockey Category:Olympic silver medalists for the United States in ice hockey Category:Sportspeople from Minneapolis–Saint Paul