Karen Thatcher


Karen Elizabeth Thatcher is an American ice hockey forward. She was named to the United States women’s ice hockey team for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Personal life

Thatcher was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, but grew up in Douglas, Massachusetts. She graduated from Providence College in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in biology.
She was employed as a physical therapy student assistant at Dodd Rehabilitation Hospital at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. She is now a Doctor of Physical Therapy at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in sports medicine and rehabilitation, and working to complete her PhD.
In 2017, she received the "Mary McMillan Scholarship" Award from the American Physical Therapy Association, an honor give to individuals with "superior scholastic ability and measurable potential for future contributions to both the physical therapy profession and the American Physical Therapy Association." She also received the 2017 "Outstanding Student Award" from the Sports Section of the American Physical Therapy Association.

Playing career

NCAA

Thatcher transferred to the Providence Friars after spending the 2002-03 season with the Brown Bears. In her sophomore year, she tied for fourth on the Friars in points. She was honored as Hockey East’s sportsmanship award winner. In her junior year, Thatcher scored 58 points. She was co-Hockey East Player of the Year.
As a senior, Thatcher was the Friars scoring leader, and was a Top 10 candidate for the Patty Kazmaier Award. In addition, she was the team captain. For her NCAA career, she accumulated 167 points in 132 games played. During her time with the Friars, the team won Hockey East tournament championships in both 2004 and 2005. Thatcher is 10th on the Friars' all-time scoring list.

WWHL and CWHL

She played for the British Columbia Breakers of the Western Women's Hockey League in 2006-07. Statistically, she led the team and ranked 10th in the league with 36 points in 26 games. The following year, she joined the Vaughan Flames of the Canadian Women's Hockey League and helped the team to the inaugural CWHL championship. In 2008-09, she returned to the WWHL and helped lead the Minnesota Whitecaps to the league championship.

Team USA

Member of the U.S. Women's Select Team in 2008-09

Coaching career

On August 20, 2010, the Providence Friars women's ice hockey program announced that Thatcher had been named as an assistant coach for the Friars.

Professional career

Thatcher works in sports medicine physical therapy for Ohio State University.

Awards and honors