Former Minnesota women’s ice hockey player and assistant coach Natalie Darwitz was named to the 2024 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Hall of Fame Class today.
The IIHF’s Historical Committee met in Prague recently and nominated its newest members to the IIHF Hall of Fame. Darwitz (USA) is in a class that includes Jaromir Jagr (CZE), Kenny Jonsson (SWE), Igor Liba (CZE), Petteri Nummelin (FIN), Jaroslav Pouzar (CZE), and Ryan Smyth (CAN). Canada’s Mel Davidson will be honored as a Builder. The eight-person class will be honored during the 2024 Men’s World Championship in May.
Darwitz represented the United State at eleven straight events between 1999 and 2010, winning three gold medals and five silver at the Women’s World Championship and two silver and a bronze in three Olympics. She was named to the All-Star Team four times and was the IIHF Directorate Best Forward at the 2008 Women’s Worlds.
She wore the “C” for the Americans three times, including the 2008 and 2009 Women’s World Championship and the 2010 Olympics. In 55 combined games between the Women’s World Championship and the Olympics, she had a remarkable 43 goals and 83 points.
Darwitz played at Minnesota for three years (2002-05) and during that span she helped the Gophers win back-to-back National Championships in 2004 and 2005 and was named 2005 Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player.
Darwitz has also served as an assistant coach in two different stints at the University of Minnesota. She is currently the general manager of Team Minnesota in the PWHL.
(info courtesy of Gopher Sports)
