- Islanders, Oak View Group, and TD Coliseum unveiled the Hamilton Hammers on Thursday
- Logo uses crossed hammers in orange and blue; the Hammers replace Bridgeport for 2026-27
- Read below for the new identity, GM Mathieu Darche’s reaction, and Hamilton’s AHL history
The Islanders have a name and a logo for their new AHL home.
On Thursday, the New York Islanders, Oak View Group, and TD Coliseum jointly unveiled the Hamilton Hammers as the franchise replacing the Bridgeport Islanders next season. Hamilton mayor Andrea Horwath, Islanders GM Mathieu Darche, AHL President and CEO Scott Howson, and OVG executives attended the reveal at TD Coliseum.
Branding-wise, the team leans into the city itself. Hamilton is known as “The Hammer,” and the new logo features crossed hammers in an orange and blue colour scheme that ties the look back to the parent club on Long Island.
Check out the official unveiling from the Islanders:
Hammers beat out Mustangs and Havoc, the other two names the Islanders had trademarked back in April. CHCH’s Clint “Bubba” O’Neil tipped the pick earlier in the week.
Darche, who played for the Hamilton Bulldogs in 2009-10, said the new identity matches the city’s working-class character.
“The Hamilton Hammers will embody the city’s hard-working spirit — built on heart, work ethic, and a community identity that never backs down,” Darche said. “We are proud to have our top organizational prospects playing as the Hamilton Hammers.”
Their new home is the 18,000-seat TD Coliseum, which just wrapped a $300 million renovation last fall. Hamilton skates in the AHL’s North Division starting in 2026-27.
This is the third AHL franchise to call the city home. The Canucks played there from 1992-94, then the Bulldogs took over from 1996-2015 as the affiliate of the Oilers and later the Canadiens.
Bridgeport’s 25-year run as the Islanders’ AHL home is over. The Hammers inherit a system that just produced Matthew Schaefer, who took home the 2026 Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie.
