Islanders Plan AHL Affiliate Move to Hamilton

The New York Islanders announced Thursday that they plan to relocate their American Hockey League affiliate from Bridgeport, Connecticut, to Hamilton, Ontario, beginning next season. The move, which requires approval from the AHL Board of Governors at its next meeting in May, would end the team's 25-year presence in Bridgeport and bring professional hockey back to Hamilton's TD Coliseum.

If approved, the franchise's top minor-league club, currently known as the Bridgeport Islanders, would play its home games at the newly renovated arena. TD Coliseum, with a capacity of nearly 18,000 seats, completed a $300 million upgrade last fall. Details on a new team name, logo and ticketing for the Hamilton market will be revealed later, pending league approval. The Islanders described Hamilton as their primary development affiliate, citing the city's strong hockey tradition and proximity to their NHL roster in New York.

"We are excited to make Hamilton our primary affiliate in the American Hockey League," said Islanders general manager and executive vice president Mathieu Darche in a statement. "The support the city has shown our organization throughout this transition has been incredible....