USA Hockey Foundation

Natalie Darwitz is no stranger to the Olympics. A three-time Olympian with the United States women’s hockey team, Darwitz again found herself at the Winter Games this year. But this time, she wasn’t there to compete.

“All I’ve known is going as an athlete,” Darwitz said. “I guess if I wasn’t playing, being on the media side was the next best thing. The whole experience was definitely interesting and different. It, of course, got me thinking how fun it would be to be back out there. But just being a part of the Olympics is always a great time.”

Darwitz served as a studio analyst for the 2014 women’s tournament on NBC. Before this year, she won two silver medals (2002 and 2010) and a bronze (2006) while being a voice for women’s hockey. While still a voice and presence on-air, Darwitz admits it was incomparable to being on the ice with Team USA.

“Being an athlete at the Olympics, it’s two-and-a-half weeks, but it took a lifetime journey to get there,” said Darwitz. “It’s a different feeling, it’s like you’re finally there and it hits you in the opening ceremony. That’s when you realize it’s something you’ve been training for all your life.

“You don’t feel that way when you’re there as a part of the media or a spectator. You just don’t.”

Darwitz wasn’t the only USA Hockey alum in Russia. On the men’s side, former Team USA defenseman Bret Hedican called the Olympic hockey games on radio for WestwoodOne. Like Darwitz, he said going from athlete to media member requires an adjustment.

“Now that I’m on the media side, it’s kind of neat looking through a different lens,” said Hedican. “As an athlete you’re getting interviewed and now I’m the interviewee; now I see that side of it and realize how big of a story it is.

“Either way, really, it’s always great to be a part of the Olympic Games. These are the greatest athletes in the world and the Olympic spirit is always pure. It’s always something you want to be a part of.”

Hedican took part in the Olympic Games twice – 1992 in Albertville, France, and again in 2006 in Torino, Italy. He has since won a Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes and currently provides pre- and post-game analysis for the San Jose Sharks.

Though they have been removed from playing the game, Darwitz and Hedican agree that you never fully leave the USA Hockey home.

“It is a family,” said Darwitz. “And once you’re in that family, you have emotions and you have feelings toward it. I want nothing more than, especially on the women’s side, for USA Hockey to be successful.

“Obviously it’s a two-horse race between us and Canada and there’s a lot of talent coming up. This last team was pretty young and a lot of girls can return in four years, so the future is bright. I think they’re on the right course and that’s very positive.”

Hedican added that giving back to that family is the natural next step.

“I think it’s always important to give back to different people or the organization that has given you something,” he said. “USA Hockey gave me such an amazing opportunity and really is the reason I made it to the NHL and turned hockey into a career for as long as I did.

“I always think there’s the next generation that is going to fill in those shoes we walked through. To remain close with the organization that is building it is something you want to do so USA Hockey and the future hockey players are successful.”