The New York Islanders of the NHL are preparing to relocate their American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Islanders, to Hamilton for the 2026-2027 season. The announcement was made by the Islanders on Thursday. Pending approval from the AHL’s board of directors, this move will mark the return of professional hockey to Hamilton.
Hamilton has a history of hosting AHL teams, with the Hamilton Canucks being the Vancouver Canucks’ affiliate from 1992 to 1994, followed by the Hamilton Bulldogs as the Montreal Canadiens’ top farm team from 1996 to 2015. Subsequently, the Ontario Hockey League’s Bulldogs played in Hamilton from 2015 to 2023 before relocating to Brantford, Ontario.
The relocation to Hamilton is part of a long-term agreement with the TD Coliseum, managed by Oak View Group, the same group that constructed the USB Arena in Elmont, N.Y., where the Islanders currently play. Mathieu Darche, the Islanders’ general manager and executive vice-president, expressed excitement about making Hamilton their primary AHL affiliate, having previously played for the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs during the 2009-2010 season.
AHL teams play a crucial role in developing players for the 32 NHL teams, with each NHL team having an affiliate team for player prospects. Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath expressed the city’s enthusiasm for the relocation, highlighting the positive impact on downtown development. The TD Coliseum, the future home of the Hamilton affiliate, recently underwent a $300-million renovation, enhancing its capacity to 18,000 seats.
Nick DeLuco, the general manager of TD Coliseum, described the move as the beginning of an exciting new era for Hamilton and its sports enthusiasts. The team’s name, logo, and ticketing details will be disclosed at a later date, pending AHL approval. This relocation comes after the Bulldogs moved to Brantford in 2023 due to extensive renovations at the FirstOntario Centre, with plans to return following the completion of renovations. However, in 2025, the team’s owners, including Edmonton Oilers star forward Zach Hyman, opted to keep the team in Brantford.
The Islanders expressed gratitude to the City of Bridgeport and their fans for their support over the past 25 years, acknowledging the community’s integral role in their AHL operations.