Natalie Darwitz
Encyclopedia
Natalie Darwitz (born October 13, 1983) is an American ice hockey
player. Natalie has been the Captain of the US Women's National Team since the start of the 2007-08 season. She has won three World Championships since 2005 and has two Olympic Silver medals and one Bronze medal in Women's Ice Hockey for the US.
Frozen Four, was named US Women’s Player of the Year) and competed in an additional three IIHF Women's World Championship (gold in 2005 & 2008).
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. Additionally, Darwitz was awarded the Bob Johnson Award by USA Hockey as the best male or female player representing the United States in international play. The award is named after the late coach "Badger" Bob Johnson.
She helped the USA Women's Team in Vancouver win the Silver medal, while acting as a guiding hand and voice for the sport. At home in Minnesota, Darwitz has coached women’s ice hockey at her alma mater, Eagan High School, where she was an assistant coach with her father (Scott) helping guide Eagan to the Minnesota HSH State Championship Tournament for the first time in 4 years during the 2007-08 campaign in her first year on the job.
In August ‘08, Darwitz was named Assistant Coach of her alma mater, the University of Minnesota, Golden Gopher Women's Ice Hockey Team and has balanced her time as a member of the US National Team. She is based in Blaine, MN (a suburb of Minneapolis/St Paul) and at the University. At the conclusion of the 08-09 NCAA campaign, Darwitz will return as a full-time member of the US National Team and be strictly devoted to the 2010 Games.
Currently, Darwitz has an equipment deal with Easton Hockey and a jewelry deal with Energy Muse. In 2008, she became a blogger for the Minneapolis StarTribune.
In May 2009, Darwitz was a featured athlete at the NBC/USOC promotional shoot for the Olympics.
In her free time, Darwitz loves to be outdoors boating on the lakes in her native Minnesota, but also likes to go surfing in Southern California and Mexico with her boyfriend. She is the youngest of three children (Nikki and Ryan), her parents Scott and Nancy.
1999, 2000. 2001, 2004, 2007 Silver Medallist
The IIHF Women's World Hockey Championship is the premier international tournament in Women's ice hockey. It is governed by the International Ice Hockey Federation
(IIHF).
The official world competition was first held in 1990. With the inception of women's hockey in the Winter Olympics in 1998, the tournament is not held in Olympic years. Darwitz was the second leading scorer at the 2009 IIHF tournament with 10 points (three goals, seven assists).
Finished her three-season collegiate career as the University of
Minnesota’s (Western Collegiate Hockey Association) career points (246) and assists (144) leader
… Was a three-time finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award and a three-time All-American.
As a Junior (2004–05): Set an NCAA single-season record with 114 points (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
Women’s 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..
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...
player. Natalie has been the Captain of the US Women's National Team since the start of the 2007-08 season. She has won three World Championships since 2005 and has two Olympic Silver medals and one Bronze medal in Women's Ice Hockey for the US.
Career biography
Darwitz began skating at the age of five, and now at 25 is a veteran of ten years on the US National Team. Over the past seven years, she has competed in two Olympics (including leading the ’02 Olympics in goal scoring and the ’06 games with the game-winning assist in the bronze-medal game. 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 ChampionshipNCAA Women's Ice Hockey Championship
The annual NCAA Women's Ice Hockey Championship tournaments determine the top women's ice hockey teams in NCAA Division I and Division III. Women's ice hockey does not have a Division II classification. Under NCAA rules, Division II schools are allowed to compete as Division I members in sports...
Frozen Four, was named US Women’s Player of the Year) and competed in an additional three IIHF Women's World Championship (gold in 2005 & 2008).
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. Additionally, Darwitz was awarded the Bob Johnson Award by USA Hockey as the best male or female player representing the United States in international play. The award is named after the late coach "Badger" Bob Johnson.
She helped the USA Women's Team in Vancouver win the Silver medal, while acting as a guiding hand and voice for the sport. At home in Minnesota, Darwitz has coached women’s ice hockey at her alma mater, Eagan High School, where she was an assistant coach with her father (Scott) helping guide Eagan to the Minnesota HSH State Championship Tournament for the first time in 4 years during the 2007-08 campaign in her first year on the job.
In August ‘08, Darwitz was named Assistant Coach of her alma mater, the University of Minnesota, Golden Gopher Women's Ice Hockey Team and has balanced her time as a member of the US National Team. She is based in Blaine, MN (a suburb of Minneapolis/St Paul) and at the University. At the conclusion of the 08-09 NCAA campaign, Darwitz will return as a full-time member of the US National Team and be strictly devoted to the 2010 Games.
Currently, Darwitz has an equipment deal with Easton Hockey and a jewelry deal with Energy Muse. In 2008, she became a blogger for the Minneapolis StarTribune.
In May 2009, Darwitz was a featured athlete at the NBC/USOC promotional shoot for the Olympics.
In her free time, Darwitz loves to be outdoors boating on the lakes in her native Minnesota, but also likes to go surfing in Southern California and Mexico with her boyfriend. She is the youngest of three children (Nikki and Ryan), her parents Scott and Nancy.
World championship biography
2005, 2008 & 2009 World Champion1999, 2000. 2001, 2004, 2007 Silver Medallist
The IIHF Women's World Hockey Championship is the premier international tournament in Women's ice hockey. It is governed by the International Ice Hockey Federation
International Ice Hockey Federation
The International Ice Hockey Federation is the worldwide governing body for ice hockey and in-line hockey. It is based in Zurich, Switzerland, and has 70 members...
(IIHF).
The official world competition was first held in 1990. With the inception of women's hockey in the Winter Olympics in 1998, the tournament is not held in Olympic years. Darwitz was the second leading scorer at the 2009 IIHF tournament with 10 points (three goals, seven assists).
Collegiate biography
Credit College Experience to USA Hockey 2008 Women's Select Team GuideFinished her three-season collegiate career as the University of
Minnesota’s (Western Collegiate Hockey Association) career points (246) and assists (144) leader
… Was a three-time finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award and a three-time All-American.
As a Junior (2004–05): Set an NCAA single-season record with 114 points (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
Women’s 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
- 2008 Best Forward/All Tournament Team World Championships - Awarded by the International Ice Hockey Federation
- 2008 Bob Johnson Award - Best International Player of the Year (male or female) Awarded by USA Hockey
- 2007 World Championships - Used pink hockey stick to promote breast cancer awareness
- 2006-07 League MVP - Selected by the Western Women's Hockey LeagueWestern Women's Hockey LeagueThe 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...
- 2006-07 Western Women's Hockey LeagueWestern Women's Hockey LeagueThe 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...
Tournament All-Star Team - 2005 Bob Allen Women's Player of the Year Award - Awarded by USA Hockey
- 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 (2000's)
- 3-time All American at Minnesota (Did not play Senior Year)
- 3-time finalist for Patty Kazmaier Award (W ice hockey equivalent to Heisman)
- 2-All Time NCAA Records (Points and Assists in a season)
- 3rd All Time NCAA in Scoring (two players ahead of Natalie played 4 years)
- All Time Leading Scorer at the University of Minnesota
- 1996 - 2000 Eagan High School, 312 goals, 175 assists = 487 points in 102 games
Media/national publicity biography
- Off The Podium.com Torino 2006 Screensaver
- February 13, 2006 PEOPLE Magazine
- February 2006 GLAMOUR Magazine
- January 2006 NICKELODEON Magazine
- 2005-06 USA Today Blogger
- November 2, 2005 NY Stock Exchange Opening Bell
Personal
- 2011-12 named head coach of Lakeville South High School in Lakeville, MinnesotaLakeville, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 43,128 people, 13,609 households, and 11,526 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,192.4 people per square mile . There were 13,799 housing units at an average density of 381.5 per square mile...
- 2008-09 named Assistant Coach of University of Minnesota Golden Gophers Women's Ice Hockey Team (at the conclusion of the 08-09 season Natalie stepped down to concentrate on the US National Team program and preparations for the 2010 Winter Olympics2010 Winter OlympicsThe 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...
in Vancouver)
- 2007 graduate of the University of Minnesota, B.S. Business emphasis in Sport Management
Career statistics
| Regular season | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
|||
| 1998 | United States Three Nations Cup | Nat-Tm | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 1999 | United States Under-22 Series | Nat-Tm | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |||
| 1999 | United States World Championship Team | Nat-Tm | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |||
| 2000 | United States Under -22 Series | Nat-Tm | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |||
| 2000 | United States World Championship Team | Nat-Tm | 5 | 2 | 6 | 8 | |||
| 2000-01 | United States Women's National Team | Nat-Tm | 32 | 17 | 18 | 35 | |||
| 2001 | United States World Championship Team | Nat-Tm | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | |||
| 2001-02 | United States Visa Skate to Salt Lake Team | Nat-Tm | 30 | 17 | 21 | 38 | |||
| 2002 | United States Olympic Team - Salt Lake City | Nat-Tm | 5 | 7 | 1 | 8 | |||
| 2002-03 | University of Minnesota Golden Gophers | NCAA | 33 | 33 | 35 | 68 | |||
| 2003 | United States Four Nations Team | Nat-Tm | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |||
| 2003 | United States Under -22 Team | Nat-Tm | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | |||
| 2003-04 | University of Minnesota Golden Gophers | NCAA | 26 | 27 | 37 | 64 | |||
| 2004 | United States Four Nations Team | Nat-Tm | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | |||
| 2004 | United States Under -22 Team | Nat-Tm | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |||
| 2004 | United States World Championship Team | Nat-Tm | 5 | 7 | 3 | 10 | |||
| 2004-05 | University of Minnesota Golden Gophers | NCAA | 40 | 42 | 72 | 114 | |||
| 2005 | United States World Championship Team | Nat-Tm | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | |||
| 2005-06 | United States Hilton Family Skate Team | Nat-Tm | 18 | 9 | 7 | 16 | |||
| 2006 | United States Four Nations Team | Nat-Tm | 4 | 3 | 6 | 9 | |||
| 2006 | United States Olympic Team - Torino | Nat-Tm | 5 | 3 | 3 | 6 | |||
| 2006-07 | Minnesota Whitecaps | WWHL 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... |
13 | 11 | 10 | 21 | |||
| 2007 | United States Four Nations Team | Nat-Tm | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |||
| 2007 | United States World Championship Team | Nat-Tm | 5 | 4 | 5 | 9 | |||
| 2007-08 | Minnesota Whitecaps | WWHL 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... |
7 | 4 | 7 | 11 | |||
| 2008 | United States Four Nations Team | Nat-Tm | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 | |||
External links
- Natalie Darwitz's U.S. Olympic Team bio
- Darwitz USOC Winter Portraits
- USA Hockey Women's Team Olympic Medal Finishes
- Natalie Darwitz - Olympic Individual Stats
- Natalie Darwitz - Biography from US Olympic Team.com
- Natalie Darwitz Action Shot 2006 Olympics Torino
- Natalie Darwitz Photo from US Olympic Media Summit Sept 2009
- Team Photos after Women's World Championship Victory 2009
- 2009-10 USA Women's National Team Roster
- USA Hockey 2009-10 Women's National Team Media Guide
Sources
- The Women's Hockey Web
- Müller, Stephan : International Ice Hockey Encyclopedia 1904-2005 / BoD GmbH Norderstedt, 2005 ISBN 3-8334-4189-5