on february 8, 1966, pittsburgh was granted an nhl franchise, which would become the pittsburgh penguins. to make room for the nhl, pittsburgh's ahl franchise had to be closed. however, the hornets would go out with a bang. on april 30, 1967, they finished the sweep of rochester americans in the calder cup finals after billy harris scored:26 seconds into overtime in what would be the last goal in pittsburgh hornets’ history. thirty-one years after the hornets first game, coach baz bastien and team captain ab mcdonald were presented with the calder cup. the hornets were calder cup champions one last time.