Islanders reach minor-league affiliation deal with Trenton Ironhawks
New York Islanders General Manager Mathieu Darche. Credit: Newsday/Howard Schnapp
Islanders’ prospects are headed back to Trenton. For a third time.
The organization announced on Wednesday it has reached an ECHL affiliation deal with the new Trenton Ironhawks. The Islanders had an ECHL affiliation with the Worcester Railers since 2017 and previously with the Trenton Titans from 1999-2002 and again in 2005-06.
The Titans ceased operations in 2013.
“We are excited to partner with Trenton as our new ECHL affiliate and bring professional hockey back to New Jersey’s capital city,” Islanders executive vice president/general manager Mathieu Darche said in a statement. “We’ve had several members of the current and past Islanders teams play games in the ECHL and look forward to continuing that trend in Trenton.”
The Ironhawks will play home games at CURE Insurance Arena, which seats around 7,500 for hockey.
Trenton marks the second new city in the Islanders’ minor-league system for 2026-27. Their top minor-league affiliate in the American Hockey League is relocating to Hamilton, Ontario for the upcoming season after playing in Bridgeport, Connecticut since 2001. A press conference to reveal Hamilton’s team name as the Hammers is believed to be imminent.
“We are proud to welcome the NY Islanders and their new AHL team in Hamilton, ONT, as part of the Ironhawks family,” Ironhawks team president Bob Ohrablo said in a statement.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
