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Minnesota hockey legends Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell-Pohl will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame Monday night in Toronto. It’s the first Hall of Fame class to include two women players since 2010 and the first ever to include two American women.

The two were teammates at the University of Minnesota, as well as on U.S. teams that won silver at the 2002 Olympics and gold at the 2005 world championships.

Darwitz most recently was general manager of Minnesota’s Professional Women’s Hockey League team. Wendell-Pohl is a scout for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The other 2024 inductees include Colin Campbell, David Poile, Pavel Datsyuk, Jeremy Roenick and Shea Weber.

A native of St. Paul, Darwitz played for Eagan High School before joining the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers in 2002. She led the Gophers to a national championship over Harvard in 2005, scoring the winning goal.

Internationally, she played for the United States at the 2002, 2006 and 2010 Olympic Games. Darwitz also represented her country in eight world championships, winning Best Forward in 2008.

 of the PWHL Minnesota franchise ended shortly after the team won the inaugural championship and just before the PWHL draft. Darwitz was 

Wendell-Pohl was born in Brooklyn Park and led Park Center High School to a state high school championship in 2000. She also played for the Golden Gophers and became the first Minnesota and WCHA member to win the Patty Kazmaier Award, given to the top U.S. female college hockey player, in 2005.

Internationally, Wendell-Pohl played for Team USA from 1999 to 2007 for 147 total games, including 106 goals, six International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships, including 2005 where she was MVP in the United States first ever gold medal win. She represented the United States at the 2002 and 2006 Olympics Games, serving as captain in 2006.

Anna Haecherl

Author

It’s the first Hall of Fame class to include two women’s players since 2010 and the first ever to include two American women. Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell-Pohl were teammates at the University of Minnesota and on the U.S. team that won silver at the 2002 Olympics.

2024 Hockey Hall Of Fame inductees show their rings

Bruce Bennett | Getty Images

2024 Hockey Hall Of Fame Induction - Legends Game

Minnesotans Darwitz, Wendell-Pohl set for Hockey Hall of Fame induction Monday

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