Meet the Hamilton Hammers, the Islanders' newly named AHL affiliate
The logo for the Hamilton Hammers, the new AHL affiliate of the Islanders.
The Islanders’ AHL affiliate now is officially known as the Hamilton Hammers.
The relocated team’s name was unveiled on Thursday at a news conference in the Ontario city two months after the Islanders announced their intention to move the franchise from Bridgeport, Connecticut, where it had played since 2001.
“We look forward to building on the progression and foundation established this past season in the AHL and bringing that momentum to Hamilton,” Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche said in a statement. “The Hamilton Hammers will embody the city’s hard-working spirit — built on heart, work ethic and a community identity that never backs down. We are proud to have our top organizational prospects playing as the Hamilton Hammers.”
The blue, orange and silver logo features crossed hammers with “Hamilton Hammers” in all capital letters stacked across the middle. The team’s name was selected as a nod to Hamilton’s history as a “resilient steel town,” according to the Islanders’ release.
Islanders president of business operations Kelly Cheeseman, former Islander Matt Martin — who originally is from Windsor, Ontario, and now is a special assistant to Darche — AHL president and CEO Scott Howson, Oak View Group Canada president Tom Pistore and Hamilton mayor Andrea Horwath were among the VIPs at the news conference, which was emceed by Islanders radio voice Alan Fuehring.
Hamilton becomes the Islanders’ eighth AHL affiliate city. The Hammers will play at the 18,000-seat TD Coliseum, which recently underwent a $300 million renovation. That facility is operated by Oak View Group, which also developed and built UBS Arena.
“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,” Horwath said.
Bennett moves to Capitals
Ray Bennett’s tenure running the Islanders’ perennially underachieving power play lasted only one season. The assistant coach will not return for Pete DeBoer’s first full season behind the bench, the organization announced on Thursday.
Bennett’s unemployment was very brief as the Capitals quickly named him an assistant coach.
Under Bennett, the Islanders ranked 30th in the NHL at 15.7% on the power play after former coach Patrick Roy imported him from the Avalanche.
The Islanders are looking for their fifth assistant coach to run the power play in nine seasons. They have finished in the top half of the NHL on the man advantage only once in that span.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
