The Bridgeport Islanders (formerly the Bridgeport Sound Tigers) were a professional ice hockey team based in Bridgeport, Connecticut. They were the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, who owned the franchise. The team started in 2001–02 season and was purchased by the Islanders in 2004. The team played their home games at the Total Mortgage Arena.
| Bridgeport Islanders | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Bridgeport, Connecticut |
| League | American Hockey League |
| Conference | Eastern |
| Division | Atlantic |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Home arena | Total Mortgage Arena |
| Colors | Blue, orange, white[1] |
| Owner | Jon Ledecky |
| Media | Connecticut Post MSG Network News Radio WPOP (1410 AM) AHL.TV (Internet) |
| Affiliates | New York Islanders (NHL) Worcester Railers (ECHL) |
| Franchise history | |
| 2001–2021 | Bridgeport Sound Tigers |
| 2021–2026 | Bridgeport Islanders |
| 2026–present | Hamilton Hammers |
| Championships | |
| Regular season titles | 1 (2001–02) |
| Division titles | 2 (2001–02, 2011–12) |
| Conference titles | 1 (2001–02) |
| Calder Cups | 0 |
The team relocated to Hamilton, Ontario after the 2025–26 AHL Season and became the Hamilton Hammers.
History
edit
The Bridgeport Sound Tigers joined the American Hockey League (AHL) as an expansion franchise in 2001 and were coached by Steve Stirling. The team's name referenced both the Long Island Sound where Bridgeport lies and the circuses of former resident P. T. Barnum, with the Sound Tigers identity being unveiled at the Barnum Museum.[2] In their inaugural season, the team won their division and had the best regular season record to win the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy. In the playoffs, they won the Eastern Conference championship and the Richard F. Canning Trophy to advance to the Calder Cup finals against the Chicago Wolves, losing the series 4–1.[3]
In its second season, the team finished second in the division and entered the playoffs as the fifth seed in the conference. The Sound Tigers advanced to the conference semifinals, where they lost to their division champion Binghamton Senators in six games. Stirling was promoted to head coaching position with the New York Islanders and was replaced by Greg Cronin for 2003–04. As the Sound Tigers, the team had limited success, missing the playoffs 10 times and not winning a playoff round since their second season.
On May 10, 2021, it was announced that the team would change its name to the Bridgeport Islanders beginning with the 2021–22 season.[1]
The team finished the 2024–25 season with a 15–50–4–3 record, its worst record in team history. Alongside this, they finished with a home record of 4–28–1–3, setting the record for the fewest home wins in a season for an AHL team.[4]
The team relocated to Hamilton, Ontario, for the 2026–27 season, playing at the TD Coliseum, following unanimous approval by the AHL Board of Governors.[5][6] They became the Hamilton Hammers on May 21, 2026.
Team identity
editMascot
editThe lone mascot of the Bridgeport Islanders was an anthropomorphic blue tiger named Storm. He appeared at home games sporting a jersey with the number 01 (short for the year the team was founded). While Storm could usually be found exciting fans throughout the arena, he skated on the ice during periodic intermissions. Storm's appearance has changed since the team's inaugural season. Storm weathered the storm since the club's change to the Islanders moniker and was a regular at home games.[7]
Rivalries
editThe main (and instate) rival of the Islanders were the Hartford Wolf Pack, the AHL affiliate of the New York Rangers (the main rival of the Bridgeport Islanders' parent club, the New York Islanders). The games became known as the Battle of Connecticut.
Season-by-season results
edit| Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | OTL | SOL | Points | PCT | Goals for |
Goals against |
Standing | Year | Qual Round | 1st round |
2nd round |
3rd round |
Finals |
| 2001–02 | 80 | 43 | 25 | 8 | 4 | — | 98 | .613 | 240 | 192 | 1st, East | 2002 | — | W, 3–1, MAN | W, 4–0 SJM | W, 4–3, HAM | L, 1–4, CHI |
| 2002–03 | 80 | 40 | 26 | 11 | 3 | — | 94 | .588 | 219 | 198 | 2nd, East | 2003 | — | W, 3–0, MAN | L, 2–4, BNG | — | — |
| 2003–04 | 80 | 41 | 23 | 12 | 4 | — | 98 | .613 | 178 | 140 | 2nd, East | 2004 | — | L, 3–4, WBS | — | — | — |
| 2004–05 | 80 | 37 | 38 | — | 1 | 4 | 79 | .494 | 192 | 222 | 6th, East | 2005 | Did not qualify | ||||
| 2005–06 | 80 | 38 | 33 | — | 6 | 3 | 85 | .531 | 246 | 253 | 4th, East | 2006 | N/A | L, 3–4, WBS | — | — | — |
| 2006–07 | 80 | 36 | 37 | — | 1 | 6 | 79 | .494 | 229 | 267 | 5th, East | 2007 | Did not qualify | ||||
| 2007–08 | 80 | 40 | 36 | — | 1 | 3 | 84 | .525 | 225 | 240 | 5th, East | 2008 | Did not qualify | ||||
| 2008–09 | 80 | 49 | 23 | — | 3 | 5 | 106 | .663 | 241 | 212 | 2nd, East | 2009 | N/A | L, 1–4, WBS | — | — | — |
| 2009–10 | 80 | 38 | 32 | — | 4 | 6 | 86 | .538 | 201 | 220 | 5th, Atlantic | 2010 | N/A | L, 1–4, HER | — | — | — |
| 2010–11 | 80 | 30 | 39 | — | 4 | 7 | 67 | .444 | 209 | 256 | 7th, Atlantic | 2011 | Did not qualify | ||||
| 2011–12 | 76 | 41 | 26 | — | 3 | 6 | 91 | .599 | 233 | 219 | 1st, Northeast | 2012 | N/A | L, 0–3, CON | — | — | — |
| 2012–13 | 76 | 32 | 32 | — | 7 | 5 | 76 | .449 | 218 | 242 | 3rd, Northeast | 2013 | Did not qualify | ||||
| 2013–14 | 76 | 28 | 40 | — | 2 | 6 | 64 | .421 | 183 | 238 | 5th, Northeast | 2014 | Did not qualify | ||||
| 2014–15 | 76 | 28 | 40 | — | 7 | 1 | 64 | .421 | 213 | 246 | 5th, Northeast | 2015 | Did not qualify | ||||
| 2015–16 | 76 | 40 | 29 | — | 4 | 3 | 87 | .572 | 209 | 220 | 5th, Atlantic | 2016 | N/A | L, 0–3, TOR | — | — | — |
| 2016–17 | 76 | 44 | 28 | — | 3 | 1 | 92 | .605 | 220 | 212 | 5th, Atlantic | 2017 | Did not qualify | ||||
| 2017–18 | 76 | 36 | 32 | — | 5 | 3 | 80 | .526 | 206 | 214 | 5th, Atlantic | 2018 | Did not qualify | ||||
| 2018–19 | 76 | 43 | 24 | — | 6 | 3 | 95 | .625 | 233 | 228 | 2nd, Atlantic | 2019 | N/A | L, 2–3, HER | — | — | — |
| 2019–20 | 63 | 23 | 33 | — | 5 | 2 | 53 | .421 | 152 | 206 | 8th, Atlantic | 2020 | Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | ||||
| 2020–21 | 24 | 8 | 14 | — | 2 | 0 | 18 | .375 | 59 | 81 | 3rd, Atlantic | 2021 | No playoffs | ||||
| 2021–22 | 72 | 31 | 30 | — | 7 | 4 | 73 | .507 | 213 | 226 | 6th, Atlantic | 2022 | W, 2–0, PRO | L, 1–3, CLT | — | — | — |
| 2022–23 | 72 | 34 | 30 | — | 7 | 1 | 76 | .528 | 238 | 248 | 7th, Atlantic | 2023 | Did not qualify | ||||
| 2023–24 | 72 | 25 | 38 | — | 7 | 2 | 59 | .410 | 162 | 222 | 8th, Atlantic | 2024 | Did not qualify | ||||
| 2024–25 | 72 | 15 | 50 | — | 4 | 3 | 37 | .257 | 181 | 294 | 8th, Atlantic | 2025 | Did not qualify | ||||
| 2025–26 | 72 | 34 | 30 | — | 3 | 5 | 76 | .528 | 219 | 222 | 4th, Atlantic | 2026 | L, 0–2, HER | — | — | — | — |
Team records
edit- Single season
- Goals: Jeff Hamilton, 43, (2003–04)
- Assists: Chris Terry, 51, (2022–23)
- Points: Chris Terry, 78, (2022–23)
- Penalty minutes: Eric Godard, 295, (2004–05)
- GAA: Wade Dubielewicz, 1.38, (2003–04)[a]
- SV%: Wade Dubielewicz, .946, (2003–04)[a]
- Career
- Career goals: Jeff Hamilton, 89
- Career assists: Chris Terry, 129
- Career points: Chris Terry, 205
- Career penalty minutes: Brett Gallant, 857
- Career goaltending wins: Wade Dubielewicz, 81
- Career shutouts: Wade Dubielewicz, 15
- Career games: Seth Helgeson, 454
Notes
editReferences
edit- 1 2 "Bridgeport reboots as the Islanders". American Hockey League (Press release). May 10, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
The new Bridgeport Islanders logo features an iconic mark for the team's future. The strong letter B recognizes the great city of Bridgeport. The stick, which forms the letter B, has the parent Islanders NY logo as the tape on the blade, a subtle nod to the affiliation between the two clubs. The iconic Islanders' blue and orange colors remain the same.
- ↑ Twenty Years of Sound Tigers, Bridgeport Islanders
- ↑ Clinton, Jared (September 10, 2015). "AHL Logo Ranking: No. 7 – Bridgeport Sound Tigers". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on February 18, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
- ↑ McGoey, Steven (April 14, 2025). "Bridgeport Islanders Win Fewest Home Games In A Season In AHL History". The Hockey News. Retrieved April 23, 2025 – via Yahoo Sports.
- ↑ "New York Islanders to Relocate AHL Affiliate to Hamilton, Ontario". Bridgeport Islanders. March 19, 2026. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
- ↑ "Islanders to move AHL affiliate to Hamilton". American Hockey League. March 31, 2026. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
- ↑ "Bridgeport Islanders And Newtown Public Schools Team Up To Help Fight Cancer". The Newtown Bee. November 21, 2024. Retrieved November 21, 2024.