The Pittsburgh Pirates history tells the story of an early NHL franchise that played from 1925 to 1930. Known as the first major professional hockey club in Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Pirates hockey team laid the foundation for future teams in the city. Despite financial struggles, they made notable playoff appearances before moving to Philadelphia as the Quakers.
Established
1925
City
Pittsburgh – Philadelphia
League History
1925 – 1931 / National Hockey League
Team History
1930 – 1931 / Philadelphia Quakers
1925 – 1930 / Pittsburgh Pirates
Nickname
Pirates – The Pittsburgh Pirates have a long and storied history in the National Hockey League, dating back to 1925. During this period, they were known by several different nicknames. From 1925-1930, the team was known as “the Steel City Six” about their home city of Pittsburgh being nicknamed “Steel City” due to its many steel mills and factories. This nickname also paid homage to the six players who made up their starting lineup during that era: Mickey MacKay at center ice; Bill Cook at left wing; Dit Clapper at right-wing; Lionel Conacher on defense; Eddie Shore on defense and Roy Worters between the pipes as a goaltender.
Pittsburgh Pirates Origin
In the 1926-27 season, however, another nickname emerged for them – The Flying Dutchmen – which was inspired by legendary coach Cyclone Taylor whose aggressive style of play earned him his moniker (Cyclone) but also led fans of opposing teams to call him Dutchman or Der Deutscher due his German heritage. The name stuck with both fans and media alike, so much so it eventually became synonymous with all those associated with the Pirates hockey club, including players like Max Bentley (who won two Stanley Cups while playing for them), Babe Siebert, Hooley Smith, King Clancy & more!
Finally, from 1927 until 1930, when they moved into the new arena Mellon Arena (now PPG Paints Arena), they were referred to simply as "The Bucs" - a short form derived from the word Buccaneers which itself originated with the Spanish term bucanero meaning pirate or sea robber - perfect fit considering how close team's logo resembles skull & crossbones symbol found most commonly among pirates' flagships! So next time you hear someone mention "Bucs," don't forget about its roots going all way back early days NHL franchise located deep within the heart of America's Steel City...
Championship
Stanley Cup 0
Arena
1930 – 1931 / Philadelphia Arena
*Pittsburgh*
1925 – 1930 / Duquesne Gardens
Owner
1928–1931 / Benny Leonard and Bill Dwyer
1925–1928 / James F. Callahan
Retired Number
*Blue is this team’s history
- 1925
- 1928
- 1930
-
Pirates Hockey Team Formation
Pittsburgh was granted a franchise by the National Hockey League on November 7, 1925. The move came after Eddie Livingstone, the former owner of the Toronto Shamrocks and the Toronto Blueshirts of the National Hockey Association saw Pittsburgh as a possible member for a proposed rival league to the NHL; Pittsburgh had, in the 1890s, been the first metropolitan area ... -
Financial Problems
In 1928, financial problems forced James Callahan to sell the team to an ownership group which included Bill Dwyer, an early Prohibition gangster and bootlegger, and Benny Leonard, a fight promoter and ex-lightweight boxing champion, as his frontman. Despite the sale of the team, things didn’t improve on the ice for the Pirates. The team’s coach, Odie Cleghorn left the ... -
Relocate to Philadelphia
On October 18, 1930, at the NHL Board of Governors meeting, Leonard moved the team across Pennsylvania, to Philadelphia, and renamed them the Philadelphia Quakers. However, Leonard’s intention was to return the team to Pittsburgh as soon as a new arena was built. Thirteen players from the Pirates were transferred to the Philadelphia Quakers after the Pittsburgh franchise relocated. These ...
Pittsburgh Pirates History
The Pittsburgh Pirates hockey team was an early National Hockey League (NHL) franchise based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team played from 1925 to 1930, making them one of the first professional hockey clubs in the city. Although often confused with the baseball team of the same name, the Pittsburgh Pirates history belongs to a short but significant chapter in the NHL’s early years.
The Pittsburgh Pirates hockey franchise joined the NHL in the 1925–26 season after relocating the Hamilton Tigers roster to Pittsburgh. They played their home games at Duquesne Gardens and became the first NHL team in the city. Despite financial challenges, the pittsburgh pirates history includes their first playoff appearance in 1927, where they faced the Montreal Canadiens but were eliminated in the semifinals.
During their five-year run, the Pittsburgh Pirates hockey team featured notable players like Lionel Conacher, Harold Darragh, and Hib Milks, who helped make the team competitive despite limited resources. Goaltender Roy Worters, another standout, became one of the first goaltenders to win the Hart Trophy for league MVP in 1929–30, a highlight in pittsburgh pirates history.
Pirates Achievements
Although the Pittsburgh Pirates hockey team never won a Stanley Cup championship, their resilience laid the foundation for professional hockey in Pittsburgh. They finished multiple seasons strongly enough to qualify for the playoffs and brought NHL-caliber hockey to the region for the first time.
Financial problems, largely due to the Great Depression and high travel costs, forced the team to relocate to Philadelphia in 1930, where they became the Philadelphia Quakers. This marked the end of the pittsburgh pirates history in the NHL, but their legacy influenced future franchises, including the modern Pittsburgh Penguins. The team’s impact is remembered as an important stepping stone in U.S. hockey history.
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