OTTAWA, Ontario — The Islanders made official on Thursday what’s been expected since the fall, announcing plans to relocate their AHL affiliate from Bridgeport, Conn. to Hamilton, Ontario for the 2026-27 season.
The announcement was made alongside Oak View Group, which operates TD Coliseum, the arena in Hamilton where the team intends to play next year.
The move is subject to approval by the AHL Board of Governors.
“We are excited to make Hamilton our primary affiliate in the American Hockey League,” general manager Mathieu Darche said in a release. “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.”
The Islanders have struggled to draw crowds to Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, but the city has been their AHL home for 25 years.
The future of the venue is not entirely clear, but the team’s statement said the club remains “committed to working with the City of Bridgeport on a successful transition for Total Mortgage Arena.”
“On behalf of the entire New York Islanders organization, 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,” president of business operation Kelly Cheeseman said in the release. “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.”
Situated 45 minutes from Toronto with a capacity of nearly 18,000, TD Coliseum recently underwent a $300 million upgrade.
While the Islanders forfeit some convenience with Bridgeport being driving distance to Long Island, the number of direct flights every day from Toronto to New York make it unlikely there will be issues with getting call-ups to the area on time.
The team name and logo, along with ticketing information in Hamilton, will be announced at a later date, per the Islanders.
“Hamilton is thrilled to welcome an AHL team to our city,” Hamilton mayor Andrea Horwath said in the release. “This is an exciting moment for Hamiltonians and a major step forward in building on the momentum we’re seeing in our downtown. Bringing professional hockey back to TD Coliseum means more opportunities for families to come together and increased support for local businesses. It strengthens our city’s proud hockey tradition while creating new opportunities for young players and fans alike to connect with the game.”
