 Sprague's brother, Odie, was the head coach of the Pittsburgh Pirates when they became the city's first NHL team for the 1924-25 season.On October 9, 1935, the team was approved to play in the IHL.Meanwhile, a report in "The Pittsburgh Press" was the first to reference the team as the “Pittsburgh Shamrocks.”

Welch then announced that the Shamrocks would leave for Niagara Falls, Ontario, and conduct a training camp on October 21, 1935.