BRIDGEPORT – The long-rumored relocation of the Bridgeport Islanders AHL hockey team to Hamilton, Ontario, was made official earlier today.
The New York Islanders, together with Oak View Group (OVG), announced their intent to relocate the franchise’s American Hockey League affiliate for the start of the 2026-27 season. The relocation now requires approval by the AHL Board of Governors. The team will play its final home game at Total Mortgage Arena vs. the Hartford Wolf Pack on April 12.
The historic return of professional hockey to Hamilton centers on a long-term agreement with the state-of-the-art TD Coliseum, operated by OVG. The 18,000-seat venue recently underwent a $300 million transformation.
“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,” said Kelly Cheeseman, president of business operations for the Islanders and UBS Arena. “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.”
Meanwhile, Islanders GM and Executive Vice President Mathieu Darche was excited for the move to Hamilton.
“We are excited to make Hamilton our primary affiliate in the American Hockey League,” Darche said. “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 said they remain committed to working with the City of Bridgeport on a successful transition for Total Mortgage Arena.
“The return of professional hockey to Hamilton marks an exciting new chapter for our city and sports fans across the region,” said Nick DeLuco, senior vice president and GM of TD Coliseum. “TD Coliseum is proud to play a role in energizing downtown, supporting a passionate fan base and strengthening our connection to the community.”
Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath sees the move as an uplifting moment for the city.
“Hamilton is thrilled to welcome an AHL team to our city,” Mayor Horwath said. “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.”
Pending AHL approval, the team name, official team logo and ticketing information for the Hamilton market will be announced at a later date.
The Hartford Wolf Pack (New York Rangers AHL affiliate) issued a statement today lamenting the loss of the Islanders/Sound Tigers.
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce tonight the official end of the Bridgeport Islanders / Sound Tigers,” the team’s booster club wrote on its Facebook page. “While we always have a laugh, you never want to see a team go. Bridgeport has played an important role in our history.”
The Wolf Pack Booster Club reached out to its fanbase for a good deed for its rival Sound Tigers.
“Join us- in our final quest April 12th as we try to once and for all figure out what a Sound Tiger is. We will be the last ever group on their ice post game,” they wrote.
The club said it will collect fans’ best Bridgeport stories, memories and photos and put them together in a memory books. It asks to send material for the books to mailto:thehwpbc@gmail.com.
For the City of Bridgeport, it is the second minor league franchise to leave the Park City in the past decade. The former Bridgeport Bluefish independent league baseball team played in what is now the Hartford HealthCare Ampitheatre.
