Pittsburgh Athletic Club
Encyclopedia
The Pittsburgh Athletic Club or Pittsburgh PAC was a professional hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
from around 1895 until 1910. The Club was an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Athletic Association. The team was a member of the Pittsburgh Hockey League, which was formed in 1896 and became known as the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League
by 1900. The first games were exhibitions at the Schenley Park Casino
. The league was formed in 1896 and the PAC were founding members. The Casino burnt down in December 1896, destroying Pittsburgh's only ice hockey rink until an ice hockey rink was constructed at Duquesne Gardens for 1899. Pittsburgh PAC won three league championships, which resulted in being awarded the $500 Trophy in 1899, 1900 and 1901. In fact the first ever hockey game played at the Gardens, was a match-up between the Pittsburgh Athletic Club and Western University of Pennsylvania (University of Pittsburgh).
The WPHL lasted until 1904 when the league pulled their best players to field one Pittsburgh team, the Pittsburgh Pros, to play in the International Professional Hockey League
. Several PAC players played with the Pros. However the WPHL was revived in 1907 and lasted until 1909. Finally the League and the PAC disbanded.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
from around 1895 until 1910. The Club was an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Athletic Association. The team was a member of the Pittsburgh Hockey League, which was formed in 1896 and became known as the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League
Western Pennsylvania Hockey League
The Western Pennsylvania Hockey League , was a semi-professional ice hockey league from the early 1900s. Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the league was the pre-eminent ice hockey league at the time in the United States...
by 1900. The first games were exhibitions at the Schenley Park Casino
Schenley Park Casino
The Schenley Park Casino was Pittsburgh’s first multi-purpose arena. The facility was considered the envy of the sports and entertainment world during the early 1890's, with amenities that were unsurpassed anywhere on the globe. It was built at the entrance to Schenley Park in Oakland near the...
. The league was formed in 1896 and the PAC were founding members. The Casino burnt down in December 1896, destroying Pittsburgh's only ice hockey rink until an ice hockey rink was constructed at Duquesne Gardens for 1899. Pittsburgh PAC won three league championships, which resulted in being awarded the $500 Trophy in 1899, 1900 and 1901. In fact the first ever hockey game played at the Gardens, was a match-up between the Pittsburgh Athletic Club and Western University of Pennsylvania (University of Pittsburgh).
The WPHL lasted until 1904 when the league pulled their best players to field one Pittsburgh team, the Pittsburgh Pros, to play in the International Professional Hockey League
International Professional Hockey League
The International Professional Hockey League was the first fully professional ice hockey league, operating from 1904 to 1907. It was formed by Jack 'Doc' Gibson, a dentist who played hockey throughout Ontario before settling in Houghton, Michigan. The IPHL was a five team circuit which included...
. Several PAC players played with the Pros. However the WPHL was revived in 1907 and lasted until 1909. Finally the League and the PAC disbanded.