Hamilton Hammers introduced as Islanders AHL affiliate

The new team in Steel Town has a very fitting new identity.

On Thursday, the New York Islanders, along with the Oak View Group, revealed the new name of the Islanders’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Hamilton Hammers.

The Hammers are replacing the Islanders’ old primary affiliate, the Bridgeport Islanders. The move came as the franchise struggled in multiple facets, including attendance. The move to an established hockey city in Hamilton could provide a boost for the Isles, as well as a city that has a long history with the AHL, and other developmental leagues such as the Ontario Hockey League.

Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche says the new venture could further help the organization craft its prospects in the near future.

 “We look forward to building on the progression and foundation established this past season in the AHL and bringing that momentum to Hamilton,” Darche said in a release. “The Hamilton Hammers will embody the city’s hard-working spirit — built on heart, work ethic, and a community identity that never backs down. We are proud to have our top organizational prospects playing as the Hamilton Hammers.”

“We are excited to begin a new era of AHL hockey in the City of Hamilton,” Scott Howson, AHL President and CEO, added. “TD Coliseum is a first-class venue, and the partnership between the New York Islanders and Oak View Group – combined with the passionate support of the community – is sure to make the Hammers a success for years to come.”

The Hammers will play in the renovated TD Coliseum, which was reopened in November of last year. They won’t be the only team calling the building, formerly known as Copps Coliseum, home. The defending NLL champion Toronto Rock have called the city home for the past few years, while the PWHL announced that it will be expanding to Hamilton, starting with the 2026-27 season.

From 1985 to 1991, the Hamilton Steelhawks and Dukes of Hamilton of the OHL called the Coliseum home. From 1992 to 1994, it was the home of the Hamilton Canucks, then the AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks. A couple of years later, after the team moved to Syracuse, the Bulldogs were introduced, beginning a 20-year run that saw the team be affiliated with both the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens.

In 2015, the OHL’s Belleville Bulls relocated to Hamilton, maintaining the Bulldogs banner for seven seasons. The team won the league championship in 2018, the franchise’s lone trip to the Memorial Cup while in Hamilton. That team ended up moving to Brantford while the arena was being reconstructed.