Islanders officially moving AHL affiliate from Bridgeport to Ontario
Islanders general manager and executive vice president Mathieu Darche speaks at UBS Arena on Nov. 22, 2025. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
OTTAWA, Ontario — The Islanders confirmed season-long speculation on Thursday by announcing their intention to move their AHL affiliate from Bridgeport, Connecticut to Hamilton, Ontario for the 2026-27 season.
The relocation only needs the approval of the AHL Board of Governors, which it is expected to receive.
“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,” Kelly Cheeseman, the president of business operations for the Islanders and UBS Arena, said in a statement. “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.”
Current Islanders Anders Lee, Casey Cizikas, Cal Ritchie, Simon Holmstrom, Kyle MacLean, Marc Gatcomb and defensemen Adam Pelech, Ryan Pulock and Scott Mayfield all spent time in Bridgeport.
But the affiliate intends to move from the 10,000-seat Total Mortgage Arena to the 18,000-seat TD Coliseum in Hamilton, which recently underwent a $300 million renovation. That facility is operated by Oak View Group, which also developed and built UBS Arena.
“We are excited to make Hamilton our primary affiliate in the American Hockey League,” Islanders executive vice president and general manager Mathieu Darche said in a statement. “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 also said in a statement they “remain committed to working with the City of Bridgeport on a successful transition for Total Mortgage Arena,” though what that transition entails remains unclear.
The Islanders have had their AHL affiliate in Bridgeport since the AHL granted the city an expansion team in 2001. The team was known as the Sound Tigers until 2021, when it was renamed the Islanders. The Islanders purchased the Bridgeport club in 2004.
Bridgeport was the Islanders’ seventh AHL affiliate city — and its longest served — since it joined the NHL in 1972.
The Islanders also said a team nickname and logo for the Hamilton franchise would be announced once the relocation was formally approved.
Hamilton has been home to two previous AHL teams, the Canucks from 1992-94 and the Bulldogs from 1996-2015.
“Hamilton is thrilled to welcome an AHL team to our city,” Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath said in a statement. “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.”
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
More Islanders
