Natalie Darwitz

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.^[2]

Darwitz was the second leading scorer at the 2009 IIHF tournament with 10 points (three goals, seven assists).^[3]

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.^[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 women's 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]

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.^[1] Darwitz and PWHL Minnesota parted ways in June 2024, shortly after winning the league's inaugural championship.^[7]

International

More information Year, Team ...

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

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