San Francisco Shamrocks
The Shamrocks franchise has had two incarnations in San Francisco. From 1944 through 1950, the very first was a member of the PCHL, an amateur loop on the west coast. The Shamrocks were unremarkable in the league for six seasons. They had two seasons with a record above .500 and were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in each of those two season. A few Shamrocks played professionally, the most noteworthy being Wally Hergesheimer, who spent six seasons in New York. The Shamrocks would go bankrupt following the 1949-50 season.
During a turbulent moment in hockey history, the Shamrock moniker was reintroduced in the late 1970s. After the WHA, NAHL, and SHL all folded around 1977, the PHL was formed to fill the void in the west coast hockey market, attracting former WHA clubs such as the Mariners and Roadrunners. The Shamrocks were resurrected as part of a four-team league and played their home games at the Cow Palace. They did well in 1977-78, going 24-17-1 in 42 games, which is a lot of games for just having three other competitors. The Shamrocks would win the PHL championship by sweeping the Roadrunners in three games. The Shamrocks went bankrupt in the midst of the season the next year, with only four victories in 23 games, and the PHL soon followed suit.
During a turbulent moment in hockey history, the Shamrock moniker was reintroduced in the late 1970s. After the WHA, NAHL, and SHL all folded around 1977, the PHL was formed to fill the void in the west coast hockey market, attracting former WHA clubs such as the Mariners and Roadrunners. The Shamrocks were resurrected as part of a four-team league and played their home games at the Cow Palace. They did well in 1977-78, going 24-17-1 in 42 games, which is a lot of games for just having three other competitors. The Shamrocks would win the PHL championship by sweeping the Roadrunners in three games. The Shamrocks went bankrupt in the midst of the season the next year, with only four victories in 23 games, and the PHL soon followed suit.
