Professional hockey is coming to the Hammer – and it could be as soon as this fall.
According to a report by NHL insider Frank Seravalli, Hamilton will soon be home to the AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders.
Updating a story that he posted in June 2025, Seravalli reported on Thursday that the team currently based in Bridgeport, Conn., will be pulling up stakes and heading north of the border to play in the newly renovated TD Coliseum.
“They are moving to Hamilton. It’s happening,” Seravelli posted on X in reply to a user questioning if the rumoured move was still in the works.
In his original post, Seravelli said that the city was expected to get an AHL with Bridgeport being the likely option.
“Expect the AHL back in Hamilton in 2026-27,” he said in a post on June 30, 2025. “Deal isn’t completed yet but discussions have centered on Bridgeport moving to Hamilton, Ontario after this upcoming season to play in a completely overhauled TD Coliseum after a $300-million renovation.”
TD Coliseum reopened its doors just a few months ago, with Beatles legend Paul McCartney serving as the venue’s first performance.
The new maximum capacity is 18,000, with an aim to attract bigger acts to the growing city.
What is Hamilton’s hockey history?
Landing an AHL franchise would be a solid first step. Hamilton saw its OHL team, the Bulldogs, move to Brantford in 2023 as the arena was set to begin its overhaul.
Hamilton previously had an AHL team from 1996-2015 – also named the Bulldogs – which served as the AHL affiliate for the Edmonton Oilers and later the Montreal Canadiens. The team moved St. John’s in 2015 to become the IceCaps only to be relocated again to Laval in 2017 and become the Rocket.
As for the AHL Islanders — formerly known as the Sound Tigers — have called Bridgeport home since 2001, playing out of the Total Mortgage Arena.
What problems will be caused by the move?
While the team reportedly signed a 10-year lease with the arena in 2021, it is owned by Oak View Group, which also operates the newly renovated TD Coliseum.
Moving the AHL team will cause several logistical challenges for the Islanders.
It will now take a longer time for callups to get to the NHL team, with a flight from Hamilton now being required as opposed to a drive that can take as little as an hour on a good day.
The club also will have to deal with additional passport and visa issues involving players shuttling back and forth between the NHL and AHL squads.
The Islanders have yet to comment on the report.