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, and again from 1961-67.

• 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.

Pittsburgh Hornets Exhibition Games

A look at Hornets teams against NHL opponents
Detroit Red Wings' Gordie Howe played in many exhibition games against the Pittsburgh Hornets including a match on January 14, 1963. The Hornets beat the Red Wings, 7-4, in the game that was a charity fundraiser for Children's Hospital in front of 8,091 fans at the Civic Arena.
DATE
OPPONENT
RESULT
SCORE
September 30, 1965 Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
L
4-3
October 3, 1964 Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
T
3-3
October 1, 1964 Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
L
5-2
September 30, 1964 Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
L
3-2
September 29, 1964 Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
L
4-1
October 2, 1963 Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
L
8-1
September 28, 1963 Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
W
4-3
January 14, 1963 Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
W
7-4
October 3, 1962 Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
L
3-1
September 30, 1962 Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
L
3-2
September 23, 1955 Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
L
7-2
October 6, 1954 Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
L
3-2
October 1, 1954 Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
L
10-1
September 30, 1954 Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
L
4-0
September 29, 1954 Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
T
2-2
September 25, 1954 Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
L
5-2
October 7, 1953 Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
W
3-1
October 3, 1954 Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
L
3-0
September 28, 1953 Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
W
5-3
September 27, 1953 Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
W
6-4
October 3, 1952 Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
L
4-3
October 7, 1951 Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
L
6-2
October 6, 1951 Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
T
1-1
September 28, 1951 New York Rangers (NHL)
L
9-2
October 1, 1950 Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
L
7-1
September 29, 1950 Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
L
4-2
October 5, 1949 Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
L
4-1
October 8, 1948 Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
W
4-2
October 2, 1948 Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
L
5-1
September 30, 1948 Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
L
4-1
October 5, 1947 Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
W
3-2
October 8, 1946 Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
L
4-1
October 5, 1946 Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
L
5-2
October 22, 1941 Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
L
7-2
October 30, 1938 Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
L
4-3
October 27, 1938 Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
W
5-2
October 26, 1938 Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
L
5-4
October 23, 1938 Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
L
7-3
October 27, 1937 Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
W
7-6
October 24, 1937 Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
L
3-1
November 1, 1936 Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
L
2-1


To see a list of Pittsburgh Penguins non-league games, click here
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