Hamilton Hammers Unveiled: New AHL Team Honors City’s Steelworking Legacy

Hamilton’s newest professional hockey team is embracing the city’s industrial roots in a big way.

On Thursday, team officials officially unveiled the identity of Hamilton’s incoming American Hockey League franchise: the Hamilton Hammers. The name pays tribute to the city’s long-standing connection to steel production and manufacturing, while also nodding to Hamilton’s well-known nickname, “The Hammer.”

The announcement was made during a special event attended by Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath, along with representatives from the New York Islanders, Oak View Group, TD Coliseum, and the AHL.

The team’s branding heavily reflects Hamilton’s blue-collar heritage. Its logo showcases a pair of crossed hammers, symbolizing the city’s steelworking legacy, while the orange-and-blue colour palette creates a visual connection to the NHL’s New York Islanders organization.

Earlier this year, the Islanders confirmed plans to relocate their AHL affiliate from Bridgeport, Connecticut, to Hamilton. The franchise will play its home games at TD Coliseum, the city’s newly renovated 18,000-seat arena, which recently underwent a major $300-million transformation.

The Hamilton Hammers are set to begin competing next season in the AHL’s North Division, bringing high-level professional hockey back to the city once again.

Hamilton has a long history with the AHL. The city previously hosted the Hamilton Canucks from 1992 to 1994, followed by the Hamilton Bulldogs, who played in the city from 1996 until 2015. Over the years, the Bulldogs served as affiliates for both the Edmonton Oilers and the Montreal Canadiens, helping establish Hamilton as a strong hockey market in Canada.