# Hamilton Bulldogs

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

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.
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.
In January 2025, National Hockey League player Zach Hyman and his family purchased the Bulldogs from Michael Andlauer, 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.

## Coaches

* 2015–2016, George Burnett
* 2016–2018, John Gruden
* 2018–2019, Dave Matsos
* 2019–2020, Vince Laise
* 2020, Steve Staios (interim)
* 2021–2023, Jay McKee

## General managers

* 2015–2016, George Burnett
* 2016–2022, Steve Staios (6)
* 2022–2023, Matt Turek

## 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

* William Bitten
* Nick Caamano
* MacKenzie Entwistle
* Kaden Fulcher
* Ben Gleason
* Jan Jeník
* Arthur Kaliyev
* Matt Luff
* Mason Marchment
* Connor McMichael
* Mason McTavish
* Christian Mieritz
* Logan Morrison
* Riley Stillman
* Marian Studenic
* Robert Thomas
* Ryan Winterton
* Arber Xhekaj

### NHL first-round draft picks

* 2017: Robert Thomas, 20th overall, St. Louis Blues
* 2019: Connor McMichael, 25th overall, Washington Capitals
* 2021: Mason McTavish, 3rd overall, Anaheim Ducks

## Season-by-season results
### Regular season

Legend: OTL = Overtime loss, SL = Shootout loss
| Season | Games | Won | Lost | OTL | SL | Points | Pct % | Goals For | Goals Against | Standing |
| 2015–16 | 68 | 25 | 35 | 8 | 0 | 58 | .426 | 197 | 260 | 5th East |
| 2016–17 | 68 | 33 | 27 | 4 | 4 | 74 | .544 | 238 | 225 | 4th East |
| 2017–18 | 68 | 43 | 18 | 4 | 3 | 93 | .684 | 252 | 207 | 1st East |
| 2018–19 | 68 | 29 | 34 | 3 | 2 | 63 | .463 | 241 | 283 | 4th East |
| 2019–20 | 62 | 24 | 30 | 7 | 1 | 56 | .452 | 235 | 267 | 4th East |
| 2020–21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | Season cancelled |
| 2021–22 | 68 | 51 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 107 | .787 | 300 | 176 | 1st East |
| 2022–23 | 68 | 33 | 30 | 5 | 0 | 71 | .522 | 226 | 251 | 3rd East |

### Playoffs

* 2015–16: Did not qualify.
* 2016–17: Lost to Kingston Frontenacs 4-games-to-3 in conference quarterfinals.
* 2017–18: 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. Won championship vs Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 4-games-to-2. Third-place finish in 2018 Memorial Cup.
* 2018–19: Lost to Ottawa 67's 4-games-to-0 in conference quarterfinals.
* 2019–20: Playoffs cancelled
* 2020–21: Season cancelled
* 2021–22: 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. Won championship vs Windsor Spitfires 4-games-to-3. Second-place finish in 2022 Memorial Cup.
* 2022–23: Lost to Barrie Colts 4-games-to-2 in conference quarterfinals.