The Calder Cup Champions just dropped their schedule for the upcoming season, and let me tell you, things just got a whole lot spicier. The biggest news? We got a brand new rival stomping into our division: the Hamilton Hammers.
Welcome to the North Division, Hammers!
Get ready to see a lot of a new face, because the Hamilton Hammers are officially crashing our North Division party. These guys are the new version of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, though honestly, whether they were always "Tigers" or "Sound Tigers" is a bit of a historical debate, right? Either way, they’ve packed up from Connecticut, left the AHL’s Atlantic Division behind, and are moving into the newly renovated TD Coliseum right in downtown Hamilton. It used to be Copps Coliseum, for those keeping score. Now, Hamilton's had AHL teams before, remember the Bulldogs? They were with the Oilers and then the Habs, but that all wrapped up in 2015. The Bulldogs brand kept going as an OHL team, even moving to Brantford with Zach Hyman leading the ownership group. But this is different, this is a whole new era! Expect these Hammers to become a big deal fast.Ten Battles and How to Get There
We're gonna see a ton of these Hamilton Hammers, too. Our Champs are set to play them five times right here at home, at our Coliseum at The Ex. And guess what? We'll be making the short trip down the QEW/403 to Hamilton five more times to play them in their building. That’s ten potential grudge matches right there, folks! If you’re thinking about hitting up an away game, which, come on, you should be, there’s actually a lot of GO Transit service from Toronto to Hamilton. Just be smart about your travel plan. There’s an express GO bus, Route 16, perfect for off-peak times and super fast on the way back at night, no stops! I’ve been on one that made it from Union Station to Hamilton in just 45 minutes, it’s wild. Plus, there are plenty of GO Train trips every day. Just remember, Hamilton’s got three different GO Train stations now. The Hamilton GO Centre is super close, like four blocks from the arena, but it’s only for weekdays. On weekends, you’ll end up at West Harbour GO Station. Public transit for that last mile can be a bit tricky, so definitely use an online trip planner to nail your timing. This new rivalry is going to be epic, and getting there to cheer on our Calder Cup winners is half the fun!What to Look Forward To
With this schedule out, the anticipation for the season is officially through the roof. Our newly minted Calder Cup Champions are ready to defend their title, and this new division rival just adds a whole new level of excitement. Circle those Hammer games, because you won't want to miss a single one. It's time to get loud for our boys!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.