Hamilton’s new American Hockey League team is hoping they’ve hit the nail on the head with their new name and logo, which were unveiled this week.
On Thursday, May 21, the team — which is affiliated with the NHL’s New York Islanders and relocated from Bridgeport, Connecticut, at the end of the 2025-26 AHL season — announced they’d be known as the Hamilton Hammers when they take the ice in 2026-27, and launched a primary logo.
The logo, which uses the Islanders’ colour scheme, features two crossed sledgehammers with hockey pucks on the ends behind a wordmark. The letters in “HAMMERS” are half white and half grey, with accents designed to make them look like they’re three-dimensional and rising up from the blue background. The H and S are larger than the other letters, with an orange line underneath.
“HAMILTON” is set in a smaller font and sits on top of “HAMMERS” in an orange box. Blue rivets sit at each corner of the orange box.
Rooted in Hamilton’s history as a resilient steel town, the team’s logo features crossed hammers symbolizing the strength, grit, and togetherness of the community, embodying both the city’s steelworking heritage and the spirit of the game. The design reflects Hamilton’s pride and determination, showcasing the unique character that defines the city, while bold, angular lettering evokes the spirit of Steel Town.
— Hamilton Hammers press release
The logo was designed by the Islanders’ in-house design team, and the team’s broader brand identity was developed in conjunction with Toronto-based agency Recess Creative.
Secondary logos include the hammers on their own and the wordmark on its own.
“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. Today’s announcement officially launches the identity of Hamilton’s new AHL franchise and sets the stage for the inaugural season at TD Coliseum. The Hamilton Hammers brand reflects our city’s industrial heritage, resilience, and community pride while embracing the future of professional hockey in Hamilton. We are proud to welcome the Hamilton Hammers to our city and look forward to the energy, visitors, and opportunities this team will bring to Hamiltonians, local businesses, and our downtown community.”
— Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath
“Hammers” was one of three possible names filed by the Islanders with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office in April. Other possible names were “Mustangs” and “Havoc.”
The Hammers will hit the ice in October 2026 at the newly renovated 18,000-seat TD Coliseum in Hamilton. But the team plans to unveil jerseys in the coming weeks, as well as launch their online store.
