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
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.
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.
Links
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One Response
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.