Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL)

Hamilton Bulldogs
CityHamilton, Ontario
LeagueOntario Hockey League
ConferenceEastern Conference
DivisionEast
Founded1981
Operated2015–2023
Home arenaFirstOntario Centre
ColoursBlack, gold, white
     
Franchise history
1981–2015Belleville Bulls
2015–2023Hamilton Bulldogs
2023–presentBrantford 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.

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

In March 2015, Michael Andlauer 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

List of notable players:[8]

NHL first-round draft picks

Season-by-season results

List of regular season and playoffs results:[9]

Legend: OTL = Overtime loss, SL = Shootout loss

Season Games Won Lost OTL SL Points Pct % Goals
For		 Goals
Against		 Standing Playoffs
2015–16 68 25 35 8 0 58 .426 197 260 5th East did not qualify
2016–17 68 33 27 4 4 74 .544 238 225 4th East Lost to Kingston Frontenacs 4-games-to-3 in conference quarterfinals[10]
2017–18 68 43 18 4 3 93 .684 252 207 1st East Defeated Ottawa 67's 4-games-to-1 in conference quarterfinals
Defeated Niagara IceDogs 4-games-to-1 in conference semifinals
Defeated Kingston Frontenacs 4-games-to-1 in conference finals
Defeated Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 4-games-to-2 in OHL finals; Won championship
Third-place finish in 2018 Memorial Cup[11]
2018–19 68 29 34 3 2 63 .463 241 283 4th East Lost to Ottawa 67's 4-games-to-0 in conference quarterfinals[12]
2019–20 62 24 30 7 1 56 .452 235 267 4th East Playoffs cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21 Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021–22 68 51 12 3 2 107 .787 300 176 1st East Defeated Peterborough Petes 4-games-to-0 in conference quarterfinals
Defeated Mississauga Steelheads 4-games-to-0 in conference semifinals
Defeated North Bay Battalion 4-games-to-0 in conference finals
Defeated Windsor Spitfires 4-games-to-3 in OHL final; Won championship
Second-place finish in 2022 Memorial Cup[13]
2022–23 68 33 30 5 0 71 .522 226 251 3rd East Lost to Barrie Colts 4-games-to-2 in conference quarterfinals[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Hamilton Bulldogs sell AHL franchise, buy the OHL Belleville Bulls". CBC News. Toronto, Ontario. March 12, 2015. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  2. ^ Lawson, Samantha (February 8, 2023). "OHL's Hamilton Bulldogs to temporarily call Brantford home". CHCH-DT. Hamilton, Ontario. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  3. ^ Collaco, Conrad (January 13, 2025). "OHL's Brantford Bulldogs sold to Edmonton Oilers star Zach Hyman". CBC News. Toronto, Ontario. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  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". CBC News. Toronto, Ontario. Retrieved March 8, 2026.}
  5. ^ "Bulldogs Name Vince Laise Head Coach". OurSports Central. August 20, 2019. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  6. ^ Mitchell, Don (March 4, 2020). "'It was a culmination of things' says Hamilton Bulldogs GM on firing of coach Vince Laise". Global News. Toronto, Ontario. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  7. ^ "Hamilton Bulldogs Name Jay McKee Head Coach". OurSports Central. July 6, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  8. ^ "Hamilton Bulldogs all-time player list". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  9. ^ "Hamilton Bulldogs Statistics and History [OHL]". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  10. ^ "2016–17 OHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  11. ^ "2017–18 OHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  12. ^ "2018–19 OHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  13. ^ "2021–22 OHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  14. ^ "2022–23 OHL Playoff Results". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
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