Karen Thatcher is an American ice hockey

Ice hockey

Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...

 forward

Forward (ice hockey)

In ice hockey, a forward is a player position on the ice whose primary responsibility is to score goals. Generally, the forwards try to stay in three different lanes, also known as thirds, of the ice going from goal to goal. It is not mandatory however, to stay in a lane. Staying in a lane aids in...

. She was named to the United States women’s ice hockey team for the 2010 Winter Olympics

2010 Winter Olympics

The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...

.

NCAA

Thatcher transferred to the Providence Friars after spending the 2002-03 season with the Brown Bears. In her sophomore year, she tied for fourth on the Friars in points (she had 10 goals and 27 points). She was honoured as Hockey East’s sportsmanship award winner. In her junior year, Thatcher scored 58 points (25 goals, 33 assists). She was co-Hockey East Player of the Year (shared the honour with New Hampshire Wildcats player Stephanie Jones).

As a senior, Thatcher was the Friars scoring leader, and was a Top 10 candidate for the Patty Kazmaier Award. In addition, she was the team captain. For her NCAA career, she accumulated 167 points in 132 games played. During her time with the Friars, the team won Hockey East tournament championships in both 2004 and 2005. Thatcher is 10th on the Friars' all time scoring list.

CWHL

She played for the BC Breakers of the Western Women's Hockey League

Western Women's Hockey League

The Western Women's Hockey League is one of two major women's hockey leagues in Canada. The league was established in 2004, and consisted of teams in Canada and one from the United States...

 in 2006-07. Statistically, she led the team and ranked 10th in the league with 36 points (19-17) in 26 games. The following year, she joined the Vaughan Flames

Vaughan Flames

The Vaughan Flames was a professional women's ice hockey team in the Canadian Women's Hockey League . The team played its home games at Vaughan Sports Village in Vaughan, Ontario, Ontario.- History :...

 of the Canadian Women's Hockey League

Canadian Women's Hockey League

The Canadian Women's Hockey League is one of two major women's ice hockey leagues in Canada. The league was founded in 2007. The league currently has six ice hockey teams: three in Ontario, one in Quebec, one in Alberta and one in Boston, Massachusetts....

 and helped the team to the inaugural CWHL championship. In 2008-09, she returned to the WWHL and helped lead the Minnesota Whitecaps to the league championship.

Career stats

Season	Games	Goals	Assists	Points	PPG	SHG
2003-2004	33	10	17	27	3	1
2004-2005	32	25	33	58	13	1
2005-2006	35	18	29	47	7	4

Coaching career

On August 20, 2010, the Providence Friars women's ice hockey

Providence Friars women's ice hockey

The Providence Friars women's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents the Providence College. The Friars are a member of Hockey East...

program announced that Thatcher was been named as an assistant coach for the Friars.

Awards and honors

• Most Valuable Player, Pool B, 2007 Esso Canadian Women's Nationals
• Top Forward, Pool B, 2007 Esso Canadian Women's Nationals
• Top 10 Finalist, 2006 Patty Kazmaier Award
• 2004 HOCKEY EAST Sportsmanship Award
• HOCKEY EAST Player of the Week Honors two times (11/8/04), and (1/31/05)
• Named to the 2002-03 ECAC All-Rookie Team
• Bruins' John Carlton Award in 2002