Going for the Gold: Natalie Darwitz

The "Going for the Gold" series kicked off our One-Year-Countdown to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. We will feature a different 2010 U.S. Olympic or Paralympic hopeful each week with a vodcast on the first and second Friday of every month.

Natalie Darwitz, captain for women's ice hockey, helped lead her team to victory April 12, when Team USA defeated Canada 4-1 to be the 2009 International Ice Hockey Federation women's world champions. If her team's skills keep up, she could be leading her fellow players to a first-place finish in Vancouver.

 The 25-year-old finished her eighth IIHF World Women's Championship with 10 points, tying teammate Julie Chu as the points leader for the championship. At last year's IIHF women's worlds, Darwitz led the tournament in scoring and was named the Best Forward.

 At 15 years old, Darwitz was the youngest player to be chosen for Team USA in 1999. The 2010 Winter Games would mark Darwitz's third Olympic appearance. She was a member of the silver-medal-winning 2002 team and the bronze-medal-winning 2006 team.

 The right-handed shooter attended the University of Minnesota and was a three-time finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, which Team USA teammate Jessie Vetter won this year. Darwitz forewent her senior year of eligibility and left the Gophers in 2005 to pursue Team USA. The 2007 alumna now is the assistant head coach of her alma mater's women's ice hockey team.

 Darwitz commenced ice skating at 4 years old. When she was in seventh grade, she joined the varsity girls' ice hockey team at Eagan High School. Prior to attending the high school, she scored 170 goals. Last season she coached the Eagan Wildcats alongside her father, who is the team's head coach.

 In addition to coaching, the Eagan, Minn., native hosts a hockey development camp in her hometown each summer. The weeklong camp is for girls and boys between the ages of 6 and 14.

 Somewhere between coaching at the collegiate level and molding the next generation of players for Team USA, Darwitz still finds time to seek the one Olympic medal she has yet to acquire: a gold. Perhaps 2010 can complete her collection.

CLICK HERE to read Natalie Darwitz's bio.

CLICK HERE to see Natalie's photo gallery.