ST PAUL, Minn. — People around the Minnesota hockey community have been familiar with Natalie Darwitz for decades.
Dating back to her days playing youth hockey for Eagan, Darwitz proved early on she was destined for greatness. And she lived up to the hype.
Not only did she help lead the University of Minnesota women's hockey team to back-to-back national championships in 2004 and 2005, she helped the U.S. win three Women's World Championships — serving as a captain for two of them — and silver medals in the 2002 and 2010 Olympics.
On Monday, her international success was recognized by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) as one of eight member of the 2024 Hall of Fame class. Darwitz joins six former NHL players and former Canadian women's coach Mel Davidson in this year's class. Among the six former players joining her are Jaromir Jagr and former Minnesota Wild defenseman Petteri Nummelin.
The 2024 Hall of Fame class will be recognized during the 2024 Men's World Championship in Czechia in May.
Darwitz spent 11 years playing for the U.S. on the international stage. In that span, she was a four-time all-star and was named the best forward at the 2008 Women's World Championship after leading the tournament in scoring. She spent two seasons with the Minnesota Whitecaps (WWHL) and is currently the general manager of Minnesota's PWHL team.
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