Report: Bridgeport Islanders could relocate to Hamilton for the 2026-27 Season

A familiar Canadian hockey city may soon be back in the pro ranks, and it comes with big implications for the New York Islanders organization. According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, the Bridgeport Islanders, AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, are expected to relocate to Hamilton, Ontario, for the 2026–27 season. The move isn’t yet official, but Seravalli reports that the deal is progressing toward completion.

There has always been speculation (or hope) that if the AHL team left Bridgeport, it would be to become a tenant at the Nassau Coliseum, where the team's fans would have easy access to watch the team's prospects develop before heading 15 minutes towards Elmont. However, if this report is accurate, that means the Islanders organization is opting for a modern facility over proximity.

The team would play at the renovated TD Coliseum, which has undergone a major facelift over the last year. Spearheaded by Oak View Group, the same group behind Climate Pledge Arena and the Seattle Kraken’s launch, the project has turned the aging building into a modern venue suited for high-level hockey once again.

Hamilton has long been considered a hockey town, and its return to the pro ranks would bring the AHL back to a market that’s been without top-level minor league hockey since the original Bulldogs departed in 2015. The city briefly housed the OHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs, but that franchise was permanently relocated to Brantford earlier this year, clearing the path for the AHL.

For the Islanders, the move makes sense. Bridgeport has consistently struggled with attendance, finishing 28th in the AHL last season with an average of just 3,665 fans per game, despite modest year-over-year growth. Additionally, the team has largely underperformed on the ice since rebranding as the Sound Tigers.

A relocation to Hamilton could breathe new life into the Isles’ development system, putting their prospects in a stronger hockey market, closer to scouting resources, and in a rejuvenated facility. Islanders fans should expect at least one more season at Total Mortgage Arena, but by Fall 2026, the AHL's time in Bridgeport may be up after 25 years.