1935-36 Pittsburgh Shamrocks (IHL)

 These Shamrocks are unlucky.

LARRY WALSH, team general manager, summing up the team’s fortunes in the International Hockey League.

February 4, 1936 - Members of the Pittsburgh Shamrocks (from left): Nick Wasnie, Billy Hudson, Scotty Martin, Conrad Bourcier, Henri Goulet and Jean Bourcier.

The economy was still in the grip of the Great Depression and hockey was starting to enjoy a rebirth in Pittsburgh.

The Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets amateur team had some mild success on the ice after the Pittsburgh Pirates moved across the state to Philadelphia. The initial idea to return semi-pro hockey team seemed like it might work, and, in 1935, the Pittsburgh Shamrocks sprouted.

The Shamrocks were owned by Ray Babcock, James McKay and Phil Jacks and played in the International-American Hockey League at Duquesne Garden. The “Rox” were coached by Sprague Cleghorn, who was regarded as one of the dirtiest players in the NHL. Cleghorn led the NHL in penalty minutes for nine of the NHL’s first ten years. Cleghorn won the Stanley Cup twice with the Ottawa Senators in 1920 and 1921, and one with Montreal Candiens in 1924. Cleghorn’s brother, Odie, was the head coach of the Pittsburgh Pirates when the Pirates became the city’s first NHL team in 1925.

The Shamrocks also had  two former Pirates, Harold Darragh and Gord Fraser, but couldn’t produce offensively. The Shamrocks scored 137 goals and allowed 170. The Shamrocks finished in fourth place in the West Division behind The Detroit Olympics, Cleveland Falcons and Windsor Bulldogs.

The eventual-champion Olympics were scheduled to play at Duquesne Garden in mid-March, but the Great St. Patrick’s Day Flood of 1936 forced the cancellation of the game.

All told, the Shamrocks and finished with a record of 18-27-1 and lost over $40,000 in four months according to the Pittsburgh Press.

Contrary to local legend, the Shamrocks did not evolve into the Pittsburgh Hornets. After winning the IHL championship in 1936, the Detroit Olympics moved to Pittsburgh to become the Hornets. Only two players from the Shamrocks (Bill Anderson and Bill Hudson) were on the Hornets roster to start the 1936-37 season.

Nick Wasnie’s uniform courtesy of International Hockey Archives.

1935-36 Pittsburgh Shamrocks

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1935-36 Pittsburgh Shamrocks