The Brantford Bulldogs, formerly the Hamilton Bulldogs, are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) that began to play in the 2015–16 season. Based in Brantford, Ontario, Canada, the Bulldogs play their home games at Brantford Civic 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.
| Brantford Bulldogs | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Brantford, Ontario |
| League | Ontario Hockey League |
| Conference | Eastern Conference |
| Division | East |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Operated | 2015–present |
| Home arena | Brantford Civic Centre |
| Colours | Black, gold, white |
| General manager | Matt Turek |
| Head coach | Jay McKee |
| Affiliate | Hamilton Kilty B's |
| Franchise history | |
| 1981–2015 | Belleville Bulls |
| 2015–2023 | Hamilton Bulldogs |
| 2023–present | Brantford Bulldogs |
| Championships | |
| Division titles | (2018, 2022) |
| Robertson Cups | (2018, 2022) |
| Current uniform | |
 | |
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.
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.[1]
History
editOn 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 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.[2]
Coaches
edit- 2015–2016, George Burnett
- 2016–2018, John Gruden
- 2018–2019, Dave Matsos
- 2019–2020, Vince Laise[3][4]
- 2020, Steve Staios (interim)
- 2021–present, Jay McKee[5]
General managers
edit- 2015–2016, George Burnett
- 2016–2022, Steve Staios (6)
- 2022–present, Matt Turek
Team captains
edit- Justin Lemcke - 2015-2018
- MacKenzie Entwistle - 2018-2019
- Matthew Strome - 2018-2019
- Isaac Nurse - 2019-2020
- Colton Kammerer - 2021-2022
- Logan Morrison - 2022-2023
- Lawson Sherk - 2023-2024
Notable players
editSeason-by-season results
editRegular season
editLegend: 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 |
| 2023–24 | 68 | 37 | 20 | 9 | 2 | 85 | .625 | 267 | 243 | 2nd East |
Playoffs
edit- 2015–16: Did not qualify.
- 2016–17: Lost to Kingston Frontenacs 4-games-to-3 in conference quarter-finals.
- 2017–18: Defeated Ottawa 67's 4-games-to-1 in conference quarter-finals.
Defeated Niagara IceDogs 4-games-to-1 in conference semi-finals.
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 quarter-finals.
- 2019–20: Playoffs cancelled
- 2020–21: Season cancelled
- 2021–22: Defeated Peterborough Petes 4-games-to-0 in conference quarter-finals.
Defeated Mississauga Steelheads 4-games-to-0 in conference semi-finals.
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 quarter-finals.
- 2023-24: Lost to Ottawa 67's 4-games-to-2 in conference quarter-finals.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Lawson, Samantha (February 8, 2023). "OHL's Hamilton Bulldogs to temporarily call Brantford home". CHCH-DT. Hamilton, Ontario. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
- ^ "Hamilton Bulldogs sell AHL franchise, buy the OHL Belleville Bulls". CBC News. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
- ^ "Bulldogs Name Vince Laise Head Coach". OurSports Central. August 20, 2019.
- ^ "'It was a culmination of things' says Hamilton Bulldogs GM on firing of coach Vince Laise". Global News. March 4, 2020.
- ^ "Hamilton Bulldogs Name Jay McKee Head Coach". OurSports Central. July 6, 2021.