Pittsburgh Superstars: Herb Drury

PITTSBURGH — Did you know that Pittsburgh played a big role in getting U.S. hockey players into the Olympics?

The first U.S. ice hockey team was formed and trained in Pittsburgh at Duquesne Gardens before playing in the 1920 summer games in Belgium. At the time, the Winter Olympics didn’t exist.

That original team included three players from Pittsburgh, including Herb Drury, a Canadian born hockey player who was recruited to Pittsburgh. Seven teams played hockey in its first Olympic appearance and Team USA won silver.

Four years later, hockey moved to the first Winter Olympics. Drury returned to the U.S. squad and carried the banner for the United States.

“He led the whole U.S. contingent. And one of the great things about that first official winter Olympics is the ice rink they played on was outdoors,” said Ana Madarasz, Director of the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum.

Drury had 22 goals in five hockey games, but it wasn’t enough to beat the Canadian Olympic team in the final. His silver medal is one of only two Olympic medals on display at the Heinz History Center.

“It’s really a cherished piece and such a great story because here’s this Canadian who becomes an American and goes on to be a representative important enough to his team that they allow him to carry that banner,” Madarasz said.

Drury helped U.S. Olympic hockey get off to a strong start, by winning two of 11 men’s hockey medals for the team since its inception more than 100 years ago.

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