The Hornets will be a tough act to follow. We're replacing a championship winning team with a group of guys that might not be playing in the NHL if it weren't for expansion.
JACK RILEY
GM of the Penguins in 1967, explaining the differences between the Penguins and the Hornets
• The Hornets were a minor league affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings from 1936 to 1945.
• The Hornets were a minor league affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1945 to 1956.
• The team suspended operations from 1956 to 1961 while the Civic Arena was under construction.
• The Hornets advanced to the Calder Cup finals before losing to the Providence Reds in 1940.
• The team was in the Calder Cup Championship six times, winning three: 1952, 1955 & 1966.
• The AHL president, Maurice Podoloff, nor the Calder Cup Trophy, were not present when the Hornets earned the championship. They were later presented with the Cup while en route to Pittsburgh.
• On April 30, 1967 they finished the sweep of Rochester in the Calder Cup Finals after Billy Harris scored :26 seconds into overtime in what would be the last goal in Pittsburgh Hornets’ history.