The Pittsburgh Hornets started as the Detroit Olympics in the International Hockey League (IHL). In 1936 they moved to Pittsburgh and joined what would become the American Hockey League (AHL). In 1956 they suspended operations as their home arena, the??Duquesne??Garden, was razed as part of a massive urban renewal project. A?? new facility, the Civic Arena, was built downtown and the Hornets returned to the ice in 1961. In 1966 Pittsburgh was awarded an NHL franchise, the Penguins.
