Islanders announce intent to relocate AHL team to Hamilton for 2026-27
It appears the New York Islanders‘ American Hockey League affiliate will have a new home starting next season.
In an official statement released by the team, the Islanders announced on Thursday that they intend to relocate their AHL team from Bridgeport, Connecticut to Hamilton, Ontario.
The move now awaits approval from the AHL Board of Governors.
The Islanders’ AHL affiliate has been located in Bridgeport since 2001, originally as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, and then renamed as the Bridgeport Islanders in 2021.
Hamilton has not had an AHL team since 2015, when the Hamilton Bulldogs, who were the affiliated with the Montreal Canadiens, relocated to St. John’s, Newfoundland and were renamed the St. John’s IceCaps.
It remains unclear if the team would keep the “Islanders” moniker in the move to Hamilton, or if they would adopt a different name more befitting its new home. They are most likely to play in Hamilton’s newly renovated TD Coliseum.
In the statement, Islanders President of Business Operations Kelly Cheeseman offered his appreciation to the Bridgeport community.
“I want to extend our deepest thanks to the City of Bridgeport and the incredibly loyal fans who have supported this team for the past 25 years,” he said. “From the early days of the Sound Tigers to our time as the Bridgeport Islanders, this community has been the heart of our AHL operations. We are grateful for the memories, the partnerships, and the passion the fans in Connecticut have shown our players and staff.”
Islanders’ General Manager Mathieu Darche discussed the organization’s enthusiasm surrounding the move to Hamilton.
“We are excited to make Hamilton our primary affiliate in the American Hockey League,” he said. “The support the city has shown our organization throughout this transition has been incredible. We look forward to having our top young talent play in front of such a strong fanbase inside the newly renovated, world-class TD Coliseum and we are committed to establishing ourselves in the community to engage a new generation of hockey fans.”