University of Minnesota Athletics
Darwitz Selected for U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame
8/9/2018 12:11:00 PM | Women's Hockey
Gophers great Natalie Darwitz is one of five members of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2018.
MINNEAPOLIS -- Natalie Darwitz, a three-time All-American and two-time national champion for the University of Minnesota, is one of five individuals who will be inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame as the Class of 2018, USA Hockey announced today. Darwitz joins Gordon "Red" Berenson, Leland "Hago" Harrington, David Poile, and Paul Stewart to make up the newest inductees.
The 2018 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Celebration is set for Wednesday, Dec. 12 at the JW Marriott Nashville in Nashville, Tennessee. Tickets for the event go on sale on Monday, Aug. 13, at 9 a.m. CT at USHockeyHallofFame.com.
"This class has had an enormously positive impact on hockey in our country," said Jim Smith, president of USA Hockey. "Their contributions have helped shape and advance our sport over many decades, and we look forward to formally enshrining each of the five honorees in December."
Darwitz appeared in 99 career games for the Gophers from 2002-03 to 2004-05. She recorded a program-record 246 career points with 102 goals and 144 assists during her three seasons; Darwitz's program record stood until both Hannah Brandt (158g-115a) and Amanda Kessel (108g-140a) surpassed her career scoring mark during the 2015-16 season. Darwitz remains Minnesota's career leader with 2.48 points per game during her three-year career.
A three-time All-American and three-time All-WCHA selection, Darwitz was the 2003 WCHA Rookie of the Year after bursting into the collegiate scene with 68 points (33g-35a) and helping Minnesota to runner-up showings in both the WCHA regular season and WCHA postseason tournament. Darwitz was also a three-time finalist for the prestigious Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award during her three seasons with the Maroon & Gold.
After Minnesota placed fourth at the NCAA Championship her freshman year, Darwitz led the Gophers to back-to-back national championships in 2004 and 2005. She was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2005 NCAA Tournament for a record-breaking, nine-point performance where she scored the game-winning goal for the Gophers with 1:08 remaining to lead them to the team's second national championship in as many years. The Gophers also won consecutive WCHA regular season and post-season titles in 2004 and 2005.
Darwitz's single-season program-record marks of 114 points and 72 assists set during the 2004-05 season still stand today. She remains third among all-time Gophers with 246 career points along with ranking second in career assists (144) and fifth in career goals (102) despite only playing for the Maroon & Gold for three seasons.
"When Pat Kelleher called me, I'm only 10 years removed from playing hockey, so I thought he probably wanted me to start coaching for some of the camps and stuff like that," Darwitz said. "I was really taken aback when he called and said that I was being inducted this year into the Hall of Fame. I'm very honored and surprised.
"I grew up playing with the boys... My dream started to take fruition when I was 15 years old and made the national team for the first time and was in the locker room next to Cammi Granato. From there, I thought, I can do this; I can play with these players. I can make an Olympic team."
Along with her success at the collegiate level, Darwitz's hockey resume includes serving as team captain for the U.S. Women's National Team from 2007-10 and earning three Olympic medals (silver in 2002, bronze in 2006, silver in 2010). She is also a three-time IIHF Women's World Championship gold medalist (2005, 2008, 2009) and five-time IIHF Women's World Championship silver medalist (1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2007).
Darwitz was the youngest player ever selected to the U.S. Women's National Team at the age of 15. She received numerous honors for her international play, including being named to the IIHF Women's World Championship Media All-Star Team four times (2004, 2007, 2008, 2009) and earning the directorate award as the top forward in 2008. In addition, she led the World Championship in goals in 2004 and 2008, points in 2008 and assists in 2009. She was named to the Media All-Star Team at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games and led the tournament with seven goals. In 2008, Darwitz received USA Hockey's Bob Johnson Award, which recognizes excellence in international ice hockey competition.
Today, Darwitz serves as head coach of the women's ice hockey team at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. In her first year behind the bench at Hamline, the Pipers posted nine wins, the program's most in nearly a decade. During her second season, Hamline compiled the second-best record in school history and qualified for the MIAC playoffs for the first time in 10 years. She continued to help the program grow during the 2017-18 season, guiding the Pipers to their best season ever with a 22-5-3 overall record. The club won its first-ever MIAC postseason tournament and finished third in the NCAA Division III Tournament. Darwitz was named the MIAC Coach of the Year as well as the USCHO.com D-III Women's National Coach of the Year.
Prior to coaching at Hamline, Darwitz served as an assistant coach at Minnesota, helping the Gophers to the program's first WCHA title since she was a player. The team went on to appear in its first Frozen Four since 2006 with Darwitz on the coaching staff as well.
"A lot of people have gotten me to this spot where I am today, and those people know who they are -- I thank them," Darwitz said. "I'm excited to celebrate this honor come this December."
U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame inductees are chosen on the basis of extraordinary contribution to the sport of hockey in the United States. The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame was incorporated in 1969 and inducted its first class in 1973, and the Class of 2018 with be the 46th installed to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. To date, there are 173 enshrined members and four enshrined teams in the Hall.
The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum is located in Eveleth, Minnesota and is open daily. For hours of operation and admission prices, visit USHockeyHallMuseum.com or call 800-443-7825. For information on the members of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, visit USHockeyHallofFame.com.
The 2018 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Celebration is set for Wednesday, Dec. 12 at the JW Marriott Nashville in Nashville, Tennessee. Tickets for the event go on sale on Monday, Aug. 13, at 9 a.m. CT at USHockeyHallofFame.com.
"This class has had an enormously positive impact on hockey in our country," said Jim Smith, president of USA Hockey. "Their contributions have helped shape and advance our sport over many decades, and we look forward to formally enshrining each of the five honorees in December."
Darwitz appeared in 99 career games for the Gophers from 2002-03 to 2004-05. She recorded a program-record 246 career points with 102 goals and 144 assists during her three seasons; Darwitz's program record stood until both Hannah Brandt (158g-115a) and Amanda Kessel (108g-140a) surpassed her career scoring mark during the 2015-16 season. Darwitz remains Minnesota's career leader with 2.48 points per game during her three-year career.
A three-time All-American and three-time All-WCHA selection, Darwitz was the 2003 WCHA Rookie of the Year after bursting into the collegiate scene with 68 points (33g-35a) and helping Minnesota to runner-up showings in both the WCHA regular season and WCHA postseason tournament. Darwitz was also a three-time finalist for the prestigious Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award during her three seasons with the Maroon & Gold.
After Minnesota placed fourth at the NCAA Championship her freshman year, Darwitz led the Gophers to back-to-back national championships in 2004 and 2005. She was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2005 NCAA Tournament for a record-breaking, nine-point performance where she scored the game-winning goal for the Gophers with 1:08 remaining to lead them to the team's second national championship in as many years. The Gophers also won consecutive WCHA regular season and post-season titles in 2004 and 2005.
Darwitz's single-season program-record marks of 114 points and 72 assists set during the 2004-05 season still stand today. She remains third among all-time Gophers with 246 career points along with ranking second in career assists (144) and fifth in career goals (102) despite only playing for the Maroon & Gold for three seasons.
"When Pat Kelleher called me, I'm only 10 years removed from playing hockey, so I thought he probably wanted me to start coaching for some of the camps and stuff like that," Darwitz said. "I was really taken aback when he called and said that I was being inducted this year into the Hall of Fame. I'm very honored and surprised.
"I grew up playing with the boys... My dream started to take fruition when I was 15 years old and made the national team for the first time and was in the locker room next to Cammi Granato. From there, I thought, I can do this; I can play with these players. I can make an Olympic team."
Along with her success at the collegiate level, Darwitz's hockey resume includes serving as team captain for the U.S. Women's National Team from 2007-10 and earning three Olympic medals (silver in 2002, bronze in 2006, silver in 2010). She is also a three-time IIHF Women's World Championship gold medalist (2005, 2008, 2009) and five-time IIHF Women's World Championship silver medalist (1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2007).
Darwitz was the youngest player ever selected to the U.S. Women's National Team at the age of 15. She received numerous honors for her international play, including being named to the IIHF Women's World Championship Media All-Star Team four times (2004, 2007, 2008, 2009) and earning the directorate award as the top forward in 2008. In addition, she led the World Championship in goals in 2004 and 2008, points in 2008 and assists in 2009. She was named to the Media All-Star Team at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games and led the tournament with seven goals. In 2008, Darwitz received USA Hockey's Bob Johnson Award, which recognizes excellence in international ice hockey competition.
Today, Darwitz serves as head coach of the women's ice hockey team at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. In her first year behind the bench at Hamline, the Pipers posted nine wins, the program's most in nearly a decade. During her second season, Hamline compiled the second-best record in school history and qualified for the MIAC playoffs for the first time in 10 years. She continued to help the program grow during the 2017-18 season, guiding the Pipers to their best season ever with a 22-5-3 overall record. The club won its first-ever MIAC postseason tournament and finished third in the NCAA Division III Tournament. Darwitz was named the MIAC Coach of the Year as well as the USCHO.com D-III Women's National Coach of the Year.
Prior to coaching at Hamline, Darwitz served as an assistant coach at Minnesota, helping the Gophers to the program's first WCHA title since she was a player. The team went on to appear in its first Frozen Four since 2006 with Darwitz on the coaching staff as well.
"A lot of people have gotten me to this spot where I am today, and those people know who they are -- I thank them," Darwitz said. "I'm excited to celebrate this honor come this December."
U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame inductees are chosen on the basis of extraordinary contribution to the sport of hockey in the United States. The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame was incorporated in 1969 and inducted its first class in 1973, and the Class of 2018 with be the 46th installed to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. To date, there are 173 enshrined members and four enshrined teams in the Hall.
The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum is located in Eveleth, Minnesota and is open daily. For hours of operation and admission prices, visit USHockeyHallMuseum.com or call 800-443-7825. For information on the members of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, visit USHockeyHallofFame.com.
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