Harry Howell Twin Pad Arena at Clappison’s Corners in Waterdown is set to undergo a significant transformation after the location was chosen to be the new practice and training facility for the New York Islanders’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate.
The New York Islanders announced on March 19 that they intended to relocate their AHL affiliate team to Hamilton, but the move was only recently approved by the AHL Board of Governors on March 31.
Since TD Coliseum is heavily used for concerts and events, the AHL team was in need of a practice and training facility.
To fulfill that need, the New York Islanders and Oak View Group, the company that operates TD Coliseum, teamed up with the City of Hamilton to announce a plan for the Harry Howell Arena.
The hockey team will officially be permitted to use the city-owned arena as its practice rink and will also be constructing a “two-level AHL-exclusive state-of-the-art training facility” within the existing building.
Furthermore, the team will host community-focused opportunities, including select open practices, community skills development clinics, tours of team locker rooms, and player engagement sessions.
The city says that they will maintain “current service levels” for recreational users, residents, and visitors “throughout construction and beyond.”
Although the facility will remain fully operational during construction, the city adds that there may be some temporary disruptions, such as changes to portions of the parking area.
Hamilton City Manager Marnie Clukie said in a press release, “Harry Howell Twin Pad Arena has become a community hub for youth, adult and recreational hockey players alike.”
“We are proud and excited to welcome a professional hockey team into a space that has served the Flamborough community since 2012. Residents can be assured that the City will continue to deliver the high level of customer service they have come to expect from Harry Howell staff, while also benefiting from new opportunities to connect with professional hockey in their community,” Cluckie continued.
New York Islanders General Manager and Executive Vice President Mathieu Darche added that the arena “provides our prospects everything they need to develop their game and become New York Islanders.”
Construction of upgrades will take place over the coming months, with completion anticipated in Fall 2026.
The Islanders’ AHL team was previously located in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
The AHL is the top developmental league for players from every National Hockey League (NHL) organization, with nearly 90 per cent of current NHL players having graduated from the league.
The team name for the new Hamilton-based hockey club has not yet been announced.
Based in Hamilton, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
