1956 Pittsburgh Hornets program from the American Hockey League

Pittsburgh Hornets (1936-1956)

International-American Hockey League (1936-1940)
American Hockey League (1940-1956)

Tombstone

Born: October 4, 1936 – The Detroit Olympics relocate to Pittsburgh, PA
Folded: 1956

First Game: November 7, 1936 (W 4-2 vs. Cleveland Falcons)
Final Game: April 3, 1956 (L 3-2 @ Cleveland Barons)

Calder Cup Champions: 1952 & 1955

Arena

Marketing

Team Colors: Red & White

Ownership & Affiliation

Owner: John H. Harris

NHL Affiliations:

  • 1936-1939: Detroit Red Wings
  • 1939-1940: Toronto Maple Leafs
  • 1945-1956: Toronto Maple Leafs
  • 1947-1948: Chicago Black Hawks

 

FWIL FAVORITE

Pittsburgh Hornets
Logo T-Shirt

Before the Pens, Steel City hockey fans had their Hornets. Two editions in fact, beginning with the Duquesne Gardens skaters of the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s and followed by the Civic Arena revival of the Hornets that took the ice from 1961 to ’67.
Old School Shirts offers this great looking Hornets tee in sizes Small through XXXL!

 

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Background

The original Pittsburgh Hornets hockey team enjoyed a 20-year run at the old Duquesne Gardens sports arena and dance hall on North Craig Street. The Gardens were originally built in 1890 as a streetcar barn. Hornets owner John Harris also owned the Gardens. In 1940, Harris formed the Ice Capades based on his success booking Sonja Henie and other prominent figure skaters as between-periods promotions for his minor league ice hockey games at the Gardens.

1945-46 Pittsburgh Hornets program from the American Hockey League

On Ice

The Hornets defeated the Providence Reds 4 games to 2 to win their first Calder Cup as champions of the American Hockey League in 1952. Three years later they bested the Buffalo Bisons 4 games to 2 to claim the Cup for a second time.

The club’s all-time scoring leaders were Peanuts O’Flaherty (Hornets ’40-’50) and Bob Solinger (Hornets ’49-’56), who posted nearly identical scoring lines during their long careers in Pittsburgh. O’Flaherty tallied 130 goals and 189 assists in 349 games in a Hornets’ sweater. Solinger scored 130 goals and registered 188 assists in 330 games.

Demise & Revival

By the mid-1950’s the Gardens was slated for demolition. The building came down in August 1956 to make way for an apartment complex. The end of the Gardens displaced the Hornets, who ceased operations that same year.

John Harris revived the Hornets in 1961 after the opening of the Pittsburgh Civic Arena the same year. The new Hornets played six more seasons in the AHL from 1961 to 1967 before getting placed by the NHL’s expansion Pittsburgh Penguins in 1967.

 

Pittsburgh Hornets Shop

Hornets Logo Mug
Available Now at Vintage Ice Hockey!

 

 

 

Links

American Hockey League Media Guides

American Hockey League Programs

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Comments

One Response

  1. The first incarnation of the Hornets were moved to Rochester, NY, where they were renamed the Rochester Americans. They remain in Rochester to this day.

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