Hamilton Bulldogs

The Hamilton Bulldogs are a major junior hockey team that is currently a member of the Ontario Hockey League. The Bulldogs play their home games out of the FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton, Ontario. First established in 1996 following the relocation of the Cape Breton Oilers the American Hockey League Bulldogs would become the main affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers until 2001. That year local interests were secured to purchase the Quebec Citadels from the Montreal Canadiens and move them to Hamilton. The team was merged with the current Bulldogs forming a joint affiliate with Edmonton and Montreal. The Oilers would relocate in 2003 leaving Montreal as the sole affiliate of the Bulldogs. The team was purchased in 2004 by Burlington businessman Michael Andlauer and would see several years of success including winning the Calder Cup in 2007. The Canadiens would remain the associated with the Bulldogs until 2015 when the team was sold back to Montreal and moved to St. John's, Newfoundland. Andlauer purchased a majority share of the OHL's Belleville Bulls and would relocate them to Hamilton in time for the 2015-2016 season.