Hamilton Bulldogs

Last updated

Hamilton Bulldogs
Hamilton Bulldogs logo.svg
City Hamilton, Ontario
League Ontario Hockey League
ConferenceEastern Conference
DivisionEast
Founded1981
Operated2015–2023
Home arena FirstOntario Centre
ColoursBlack, gold, white
   
Franchise history
1981–2015 Belleville Bulls
2015–2023Hamilton Bulldogs
2023–present Brantford Bulldogs
Championships
Division titles(2018, 2022)
Robertson Cups(2018, 2022)

The Hamilton Bulldogs were a Canadian major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) that began to play in the 2015–16 season. Based in Hamilton, Ontario, the Bulldogs played home games at FirstOntario Centre. They were purchased by owner Michael Andlauer in March 2015 and relocated to Hamilton after 34 years in Belleville, Ontario, where they were known as the Bulls. The Bulldogs won OHL championships in 2018 and 2022.

Contents

The Bulldogs replaced the American Hockey League team of the same name, also formerly owned by Andlauer. The original team played in Hamilton from 1996 to 2015, after which they moved to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, to become the second incarnation of the St. John's IceCaps.

History

On March 12, 2015, Michael Andlauer announced that he had acquired the Belleville Bulls and that they would move into the FirstOntario Centre for the 2015–16 season as the Hamilton Bulldogs. The Hamilton Bulldogs franchise which played in the American Hockey League had been sold to the Montreal Canadiens and moved to St. John's, Newfoundland, for the 2015–16 season. [1]

In February 2023, due to upcoming renovations to the FirstOntario Centre, the Bulldogs announced they would be temporarily relocating to the Brantford Civic Centre and renaming as the Brantford Bulldogs for at least three seasons, beginning in the 2023–24 season. The Civic Centre will also be undergoing over $9 million in renovations, funded by both the Bulldogs and the City of Brantford. [2]

In January 2025, National Hockey League player Zach Hyman and his family purchased the Bulldogs from Michael Andlauer, [3] and signed a memorandum of understanding with the City of Brantford for the Bulldogs to play at a proposed sports complex in Brantford for 15 years, despite $290 million renovations to FirstOntario Centre. [4]

Coaches

General managers

Players

Team captains

  • Justin Lemcke (2015–2018)
  • MacKenzie Entwistle (2018–2019)
  • Matthew Strome (2018–2019 )
  • Isaac Nurse (2019–2020)
  • Colton Kammerer (2021–2022)
  • Logan Morrison (2022–2023)

Notable players

NHL first-round draft picks

Season-by-season results

Regular season

Legend: OTL = Overtime loss, SL = Shootout loss

Season GamesWonLostOTLSLPointsPct %Goals
For		Goals
Against		Standing
2015–16 6825358058.4261972605th East
2016–17 6833274474.5442382254th East
2017–18 6843184393.6842522071st East
2018–19 6829343263.4632412834th East
2019–20 6224307156.4522352674th East
2020–21 000000.00000Season cancelled
2021–22 68511232107.7873001761st East
2022–23 6833305071.5222262513rd East

Playoffs

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Hamilton Bulldogs sell AHL franchise, buy the OHL Belleville Bulls". CBC News. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
  2. ↑ Lawson, Samantha (February 8, 2023). "OHL's Hamilton Bulldogs to temporarily call Brantford home". CHCH-DT . Hamilton, Ontario. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  3. ↑ Collaco, Conrad (January 13, 2025). "OHL's Brantford Bulldogs sold to Edmonton Oilers star Zach Hyman" . Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  4. ↑ Collaco, Conrad; Chandler, Justin (January 16, 2025). "OHL's Bulldogs won't return to Hamilton, new owners sign 15-year-deal in Brantford, Ont." Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Bulldogs Name Vince Laise Head Coach". OurSports Central. August 20, 2019.
  6. ↑ "'It was a culmination of things' says Hamilton Bulldogs GM on firing of coach Vince Laise". Global News. March 4, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Hamilton Bulldogs Name Jay McKee Head Coach". OurSports Central. July 6, 2021.
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