The Pittsburgh Hornets existed in the American Hockey League
from 1936-37 to 1955-56 and were revived for a stint between 1961-62 and
1966-67. In the first existence of the team, the Hornets won the Calder Cup as
AHL playoff champion on two occasions. As the re-incarnated Hornets, the
franchise would win one more Calder Cup championship before being chased out of
town by the National Hockey League and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
1951-52
The Hornets won their first Calder Cup in 1951-52. The team
finished first overall in the nine team league and first in the five team West
Division. Pittsburgh knocked out the Hershey
Bears, 4-1 in the opening round of the playoffs. After receiving a bye
through the second round, Pittsburgh met the Providence Reds in the finals and
prevailed in six games.
The 1951-52 Hornets were coached by Toronto Maple Leafs
legend, King Clancy. A future Toronto star defenseman played on the blue line
for Pittsburgh. Tim
Horton played in all eleven playoff games. The following year, Horton
became a regular with the Maple Leafs and would continue on in the National
Hockey League until his death during the 1973-74 season. He would make his
return to Pittsburgh, playing for the Penguins late in his career. Tim also
appeared for the New York Rangers and Buffalo Sabres.
1954-55
Two years later, in 1954-55, the Hornets were crowned Calder Cup
champions again. The AHL was reduced to a six team, single division league
and Pittsburgh finished first overall. Coached by another big name former
Toronto player, Howie Meeker, the Hornets beat the Springfield Indians three
games to one in the first round before taking out the Buffalo Bisons 4-2 in the
finals.
Leading the way for Pittsburgh in 1954-55 was Willie
Marshall. Willie went on to become the AHL all-time leader in games played,
goals, assists and points, records that stand today. Since 2003-04, the AHL has
honoured the player that finishes the regular season with the most goals with
the Willie Marshall Award.
1966-67
The reincarnated version of the Hornets knew going in that
1966-67 would be their final season in Pittsburgh. The Penguins had been
granted an NHL franchise and were slated to start, along with five other new
teams, in 1967-68. There simply wasn’t room for two pro teams in town. Since
re-entering the league in 1961-62, the new-style Hornets had been affiliated
with the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings. The 1966-67 team was filled with young talent
like Peter Mahovlich, Gary Jarrett and Billy Harris, along with long-time
veterans Andy
Bathgate and Doug Harvey.
The Hornets finished first overall in the nine team AHL, as
well as finishing first in the four team West Division. After beating the
Hershey Bears four games to one in the opening round, Pittsburgh received a bye
through to the finals. They met Rochester in the Calder Cup finals and swept
the Americans in four games.
