Trivia First use of herculite, in a hockey arena. Place and year ? (Pittsburgh Pirates)

[canadian citizen]

Before Lexan, there was a product called Herculite, that replaced the wire mesh above the boards in hockey rinks.

Name the first use in the NHL. What arena, and what year ?

Bonus question. Before the advent of modern plastic facings on the boards, what were the boards made of ? As in, what kind of material, by name ? I'm talkng about the era before the Second World War.

Jim B

Toronto.

[SabresFanInSA]

Pittsburgh Pirates - Duquense Gardens - 19..............25?

This was also the first arena to use commercial refrigeration for the ice wasnt it?