Natalie Darwitz

Natalie Rose Darwitz (born October 13, 1983) is an American ice hockey player. Natalie was the Captain of the US Women's National Team for several seasons beginning with the 2007–08 season. She won three World Championships between 2005 and 2009, and two Olympic silver medals and one bronze medal in Women's ice hockey for the US. She is currently the assistant coach for the Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey team.[1]

Natalie Darwitz
Born (1983-10-13) October 13, 1983
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 Minnesota Golden Gophers
National team  United States
Playing career 1998–2010
Website Official site
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
IIHF World Women's Championships
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
Women's 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

Career biography

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 '08 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. 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 Golden Gophers women's ice hockey team.[1]

Personal life

She is the youngest of three children (Nikki and Ryan); her parents are Scott and Nancy.

Collegiate biography

She finished her three-season collegiate career as the University of Minnesota's (Western Collegiate Hockey Association) career points (246) and assists (144) leader. She was a three-time finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award[5] and a three-time All-American.[6]

As a junior (2004–05): Set an NCAA single-season record with 114 points[7] (42-72) in 40 games … Led the nation in points per game (2.85) and assists (72) … Set a tournament record with nine points (3-6) in two games at the NCAA Women's Frozen Four … In the final game, scored the go-ahead goal with under a minute remaining to give Minnesota its second straight national title … Named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player and garnered All-America First Team honors … Top-three finalist for the 2005 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award.

As a sophomore (2003–04): All-America Second Team selection … 2004 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award top-10 finalist … First Team All-WCHA selection … Named to the WCHA All-Academic and Academic All-Big Ten teams … Tied for second on the team in points (64), despite missing 10 games with an injury … Second in goals (27) and assists (37)… Had a WCHA-best 28 power-play points (10-18) … Three-time WCHA Offensive Player of the Week … Named to the WCHA All-Tournament Team … Scored her fourth hat trick of the season to lead the team to victory in the national title game … Named to the NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament Team.

As a freshman (2002–03): All-America First Team selection … 2003 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award top-10 finalist … WCHA Rookie of the Year … Team scoring leader (33-35–68) … First-Team All-WCHA selection and WCHA All-Rookie honoree..

Accomplishments and notes
  • 2005 Bob Allen Women's Player of the Year Award - awarded by USA Hockey[8]
  • 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)[9]

Career statistics

International
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts
1999 United StatesWWC 2nd place, silver medalist(s)5213
2000United StatesWWC 2nd place, silver medalist(s)5268
2001United StatesWWC 2nd place, silver medalist(s)5314
2002 United States OG 2nd place, silver medalist(s)5718
2004United StatesWWC 2nd place, silver medalist(s)57310
2005United StatesWWC 1st place, gold medalist(s)5224
2006 United States OG 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)5336
2007United StatesWWC 2nd place, silver medalist(s)5459
2008United StatesWWC 1st place, gold medalist(s)56410
2009United StatesWWC 1st place, gold medalist(s)53710
International Totals50393372

Collegiate
    Regular season
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPts
2002–03 Minnesota Golden Gophers WCHA 33333568
2003–04 Minnesota Golden GophersWCHA 26273764
2004–05 Minnesota Golden GophersWCHA 404272114
NCAA Totals99102144246

Professional
    Regular season
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPts
2006–07 Minnesota WhitecapsWWHL13111021
2007–08 Minnesota WhitecapsWWHL74711
WWHL Totals20151732

References
  1. 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.
  2. "Bob Johnson Award". USAHockey.com. USA Hockey. Archived from the original on February 14, 2022. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  3. "Scoring Leaders" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-01-05. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  4. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Lakeville South Girls Hockey New Coach Announcement". YouTube.
  5. "Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award" (PDF). WCHA.com. Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 14, 2022. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  6. "WCHA All-Americans" (PDF). WCHA.com. Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 5, 2022. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  7. "Natalie Darwitz | EastonHockey". Archived from the original on 2010-01-17. Retrieved 2010-01-19.
  8. "Bob Allen Women's Player of the Year". USA Hockey. Archived from the original on February 14, 2022. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  9. "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
  • Müller, Stephan : International Ice Hockey Encyclopedia 1904-2005 / BoD GmbH Norderstedt, 2005 ISBN 3-8334-4189-5
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