The NHL’s New York Islanders are set to move their American Hockey League affiliate — the Bridgeport Islanders — to Hamilton in time for the start of the 2026-2027 season.
The Islanders made the announcement Thursday.
If approved by the AHL’s board of directors, it’d mark the return of professional hockey to Hamilton.
The Hamilton Canucks served as the Vancouver Canucks’ AHL affiliate from 1992 through 1994. The Hamilton Bulldogs were the Montreal Canadiens’ top farm team from 1996 until 2015. The Ontario Hockey League team, also called the Bulldogs, played in Hamilton from 2015-2023 before moving to Brantford, Ont.
“The historic return … centres on a long-term agreement with the state-of-the-art TD Coliseum,” which is operated by Oak View Group, an Islanders news release said.
“We are excited to make Hamilton our primary affiliate in the AHL,” said Mathieu Darche, New York’s general manager and executive vice-president.
The TD Coliseum, where the Hamilton affiliate will be based, is an 18,000-seat venue that recently underwent a $300,000 facelift after two years of renovations.
More to come
