Hamilton is laying down the Hammer this upcoming season.

The former Bridgeport Islanders, AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, have officially relocated to Hamilton, Ontario and today they unveiled their new name and branding: The Hamilton Hammers.

Check it out:

“The city of Hamilton can now unite as Hammers fans. We look forward to seeing the Hammers logo proudly represented across the city as we head into the season this fall,” said Nick DeLuco, Senior Vice President and General Manager of TD Coliseum. “We’re excited for the energy and atmosphere this team will bring to TD Coliseum night after night,”

“This is an exciting new chapter for Hamilton and another major milestone in our city’s growing reputation as a premier destination for sports and entertainment,” said Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath. “Today’s announcement officially launches the identity of Hamilton’s new AHL franchise and sets the stage for the inaugural season at TD Coliseum. The Hamilton Hammers brand reflects our city’s industrial heritage, resilience, and community pride while embracing the future of professional hockey in Hamilton. We are proud to welcome the Hamilton Hammers to our city and look forward to the energy, visitors, and opportunities this team will bring to Hamiltonians, local businesses, and our downtown community.”

The Hammers were first founded in 2001 as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The franchise quickly built a loyal fanbase and enjoyed immediate success, reaching the Calder Cup Final during its inaugural season under head coach Steve Stirling. Over the years, the team became known as an important development pipeline for the Islanders organization, helping develop NHL talent while surviving multiple ownership changes and inconsistent on-ice results.

In 2021, the franchise officially rebranded as the Bridgeport Islanders in an effort to strengthen ties with the parent club, although many longtime fans continued to prefer the original “Sound Tigers” identity. Despite remaining a fixture in Bridgeport for 25 seasons, attendance struggles and arena uncertainty continued to create speculation regarding the team’s future.

Now, that era is officially coming to an end. The AHL Board of Governors recently approved the franchise’s relocation to Hamilton, Ontario beginning with the 2026-27 season. The team will play out of the newly renovated TD Coliseum, ending a 25-year chapter in Bridgeport hockey history.

For hockey fans in Hamilton, the move represents the return of high-level professional hockey to a city with deep roots in the AHL dating back to the Hamilton Bulldogs era. Meanwhile, many fans in Bridgeport are understandably heartbroken over losing a team that became part of the city’s identity for more than two decades.