HOCKEY HALL OF FAME
Two former Western Collegiate Hockey Association standouts in Minnesota's Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell-Pohl will be inducted into the 2024 Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto on Nov. 11 at 8 PM ET on the NHL Network.
The duo joins Minnesota Duluth's Caroline Ouellette as the only members from the WCHA to be honored as inductees.
Darwitz played at Minnesota for three years (2002-05). In 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. In 2005, Darwitz tallied 42 goals and 72 assists for 114 points, breaking the NCAA record for points in a single season and earning Bob Allen Women's Player of the Year honors. In just 99 career games, the three-time All-American currently ranks first in program history in points per game (2.48) and assists per game (1.45). The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame inducted Natalie in 2019, and in 2024, she was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Player Category.
Wendell-Pohl was also a part of the Minnesota women's hockey team for three years (2002-05). The three-time All-American and two-time WCHA Player of the Year was named Bob Allen Women's Player of the Year in 2001. During her time with the Golden Gophers, Wendell-Pohl helped her team win back-to-back national championships in 2004 and 2005 and was named the 2005 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner. The Brooklyn Park, Minn., native ranks second in program history in points-per-game (2.35), goals-per-game (1.05) and assists-per-game (1.30). She was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2019. In 2024, she was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Player Category.
On the international stage, Darwitz and Wendell-Pohl have combined for five Olympic medals and 14 IIHF women's world championship medals with team USA. Both are members of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame and the 'M' Club Hall of Fame.
For more information on the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, follow the league at WCHA.com and on its social platforms: X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.