Natalie Rose Darwitz (born October 13, 1983) is an American ice hockey executive and retired player, currently serving as general manager of PWHL Minnesota in the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL).^[1]

Quick Facts Born, Occupation ...

Natalie Darwitz
Darwitz with the US national team in 2010
Born	(1983-10-13) October 13, 1983 (age 40) Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Occupation	Ice hockey executive
Years active	2023–present
Employer	PWHL Minnesota
Ice hockey career Height 5 ft 3 in (160 cm) Weight 135 lb (61 kg; 9 st 9 lb) Position Forward Shot Right Played for Minnesota Whitecaps Minnesota Golden Gophers Coached for Minnesota Golden Gophers Hamline Pipers National team  United States Playing career 1998–2010 Coaching career 2007–present Website Official website Medal record Representing  United States Women's ice hockey Olympic Games 2002 Salt Lake City Tournament 2010 Vancouver Tournament 2006 Turin Tournament World Championship 2005 Sweden Tournament 2008 China Tournament 2009 Finland Tournament 1999 Finland Tournament 2000 Canada Tournament 2001 United States Tournament 2004 Canada Tournament 2007 Canada Tournament 4 Nations Cup 2003 Sweden Tournament 2008 United States Tournament 1998 Finland Tournament 1999 Canada Tournament 2000 United States Tournament 2002 Canada Tournament 2004 United States Tournament 2005 Finland Tournament 2006 Canada Tournament 2007 Sweden Tournament

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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 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]

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.^{[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 Golden Gophers women's ice 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]

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]

• 2005 Bob Allen Women's Player of the Year Award - awarded by USA Hockey^[7]
• 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)^[8]