Natalie Darwitz, Krissy Wendell-Pohl Inducted Into Hockey Hall of Fame

Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell-Pohl will be headed to the Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the 2024 class, the Hockey Hall of Fame announced Tuesday. It is the first time since 2010 two women will be inducted to the HHOF in the same year.

Most recently, Darwitz served as the General Manager for PWHL Minnesota in their inaugural season before parting ways just nine days after winning the Walter Cup.

Darwitz grew up playing hockey in Minnesota and attended the University of Minnesota where she won back-to-back championships and was named Most Outstanding Player of the Frozen Four. She also played two seasons in the WWHL with the Minnesota Whitecaps.

At the international level, Darwitz earned three Olympic medals and eight World Championship medals. In 2002, she was the youngest player to be selected to the National team. She also served as Captain of Team USA from 2007 to 2010.

Darwitz adds Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee to her long list of awards including Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame, U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee, and IIHF Hall of Fame Inductee.

Another Minnesota-born player, Wendell-Pohl is currently a scout for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the NHL.

Wendell-Pohl also attended the University of Minnesota and played for the Golden Gophers with Natalie Darwitz. She set the record for most game-winning goals and was the first Minnesota-born player to win the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Trophy. In addition to two NCAA championships, she also won WCHA Player of the Year twice and earned All-America honours three times.

Internationally, Wendell-Pohl captained Team USA from 2005-2007 and won two Olympic and six World Championship medals.

Darwitz and Wendell-Pohl join Cammi Granato (2010) and Angela James (2014) as the only American-born women to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Congratulations to Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell-Pohl!

Former NHL players Pavel Datsyuk, Jeremy Roenick, and Shea Webber, and builders Colin Campbell and David Poile are also part of the HHOF Class of 2024.