The Bridgeport Islanders are a professional

ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey in North America) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an Ice rink, ice skating rink with Ice hockey rink, lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. Tw ...

team based in Bridgeport, Connecticut. They are the

American Hockey League The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary developmental league of the National Hockey League (NHL). The league comprises 32 teams, with 26 in the United States and 6 in Cana ...

(AHL) affiliate of the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

New York Islanders The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (N ...

, who own the franchise. The team started in 2001–02 season and was purchased by the Islanders in 2004. The team plays their home games at the Total Mortgage Arena.

History

The Bridgeport Sound Tigers joined the

as an expansion franchise in 2001 and were coached by Steve Stirling. The team's name referenced both the

Long Island Sound Long Island Sound is a sound (geography), marine sound and tidal estuary of the Atlantic Ocean. It lies predominantly between the U.S. state of Connecticut to the north and Long Island in New York (state), New York to the south. From west to east, ...

where Bridgeport lies and the circuses of former resident P. T. Barnum, with the Sound Tigers identity being unveiled at the Barnum Museum. In their inaugural season, the team won their division and had the best regular season record to win the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy. In the playoffs, they won the Eastern Conference championship and the Richard F. Canning Trophy to advance to the Calder Cup finals against the Chicago Wolves. They lost the series four games-to-one. In their second season, the team finished second in their division and the fifth conference seed in the playoffs. They advanced to the conference semifinals, where they lost to their division champion Binghamton Senators in six games. Stirling was promoted to head coaching position with the

and was replaced by Greg Cronin for 2003–04. As the Sound Tigers, the team had limited success, missing the playoffs ten times and not winning a playoff round since their second season. On May 10, 2021, it was announced that the team would change its name to the Bridgeport Islanders beginning with the 2021–22 season. The team finished the 2024-25 season with a 15-50-4-3 record, their worst record in team history. Alongside this, they finished with a home record of 4-28-1-3, setting the record for the fewest home wins in a season for an AHL team.

Team identity

Mascot

The lone mascot of the Bridgeport Islanders is a anthropomorphic blue tiger named Storm. He appears at home games sporting a jersey with the number 01 (short for the year the team was founded). While Storm can usually be found exciting fans throughout the arena, he skates on the ice during periodic intermissions. Storm's appearance has changed since the team's inaugural season. Storm has weathered the storm since the club's change to the Islander's moniker and is a regular at-home game.

Rivalries

The main (and instate) rival of the Islanders are the Hartford Wolf Pack, the AHL affiliate of the

New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...

(the main rival of the Bridgeport Islanders' parent club, the

). The games have become known as the Battle of Connecticut. They have formed a rivalry with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the

Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...

' AHL affiliate, and the Providence Bruins, the

Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...

' AHL affiliate, largely due to the teams frequently facing off in playoff match-ups and regular season play. They also are semi-rivals with the

Hershey Bears The Hershey Bears are a professional ice hockey team based in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The Bears have played in the American Hockey League (AHL) since the 1938–39 season, making it the longest continuously operating member club of the league still ...

, the

Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NH ...

' AHL affiliate.

Season-by-season results

Players

Current roster

Updated April 20, 2025.

Team captains

;Notes * There were three captains for the 2004–05 season: Aldridge named on Oct. 16, 2004, Seeley named on Nov. 6, 2004, and Campbell named on Mar. 16, 2005 * There were two captains for the 2012–13 season: McDonald was named on Dec. 7, 2012, and Watkins was named on Feb. 22, 2013. * There were two captains for the 2018–19 season: when Ben Holmstrom played, he wore the "C" on his sweater. When Holmstrom did not play, Kyle Burroughs wore the C.

Notable alumni

The following players have played both 100 games in Bridgeport and 100 games in the

Team records

;Single season :Goals: Jeff Hamilton, 43, (2003–04) :Assists: Rob Collins, 48, (2005–06) :Points: Jeff Tambellini, 76, (2007–08) :Penalty minutes: Eric Godard, 295, (2004–05) :GAA: Wade Dubielewicz, 1.38, (2003–04) :SV%: Wade Dubielewicz, .946, (2003–04) :C. AHL Records ;Career :Career goals: Jeff Hamilton, 89 :Career assists: Jeremy Colliton, 126 :Career points: Jeremy Colliton, 203 :Career penalty minutes: Brett Gallant, 857 :Career goaltending wins: Wade Dubielewicz, 81 :Career shutouts: Wade Dubielewicz, 15 :Career games: Mark Wotton, 368

References

External links

Official website
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