Hamilton Bulldogs



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.

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 OHL season. The Civic Centre will also be undergoing over $9 million in renovations, funded by both the Bulldogs and the City of Brantford.

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 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.

Coaches

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

General managers

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

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
 * Lawson Sherk - 2023-2024

Notable players

 * Nick Caamano
 * MacKenzie Entwistle
 * Matt Luff
 * Arthur Kaliyev
 * Mason Marchment
 * Mason McTavish
 * Christian Mieritz
 * Marian Studenic
 * Robert Thomas
 * Ryan Winterton
 * Arber Xhekaj

Regular season
Legend: OTL = Overtime loss, SL = Shootout loss

Playoffs

 * 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.