PREVIEW: HAMMERS HOST PHANTOMS ON AHL'S 90TH BIRTHDAY
Nov 7, 2026
On the AHL’s 90th anniversary, the Hamilton Hammers (3-9-0-2) welcome the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (5-6-1-0) to TD Coliseum for a Saturday night matchup.
Hamilton will look to put Friday’s loss to Providence behind them and close out its three-game homestand on a high note. The Phantoms, meanwhile, make their final stop on a three-game Canadian road trip.
Live coverage is available on CABLE14 and AHLTV on FloHockey, with tickets on sale at HamiltonHammers.com.
Here is what you need to know:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AHL
The American Hockey League celebrates a major milestone Saturday, marking 90 years since its founding in 1936. To commemorate the occasion, all 32 AHL teams will take the ice as part of a league-wide hockey marathon, bringing a full day of hockey to fans across North America.
The Hammers and Phantoms are part of the celebration, with their 7:00 p.m. ET matchup at TD Coliseum among four games scheduled for the evening's primetime window.
LOOKING TO BOUNCE BACK
Hamilton will be looking to respond after a heartbreaking 5-4 loss to Providence on Friday night. The Hammers carried a 3-0 lead into the third period and restored a two-goal advantage late, but the Bruins scored five times in the final frame, including the game-winner with just 25 seconds remaining. Mikey Eyssimont led the comeback with a natural hat trick, scoring three times in the third period.
Joey Larson, Liam Foudy, Pierre Engvall and Cam Thiesing found the back of the net for Hamilton, while Vítek Vaněček turned aside 46 of 51 shots. Despite the result, the Hammers showed their ability to generate offence and will look to carry that production into Saturday's matchup.
LARSON MAKING HIS MARK
Larson put together a two-point performance against Providence on Friday, opening the scoring with his third goal of the season before adding an assist on Foudy's marker. He now has four points (three goals, one assist) through seven games and will look to carry that momentum into the Lehigh Valley game.
NEW FACES IN THE LINEUP
Robby Fabbri and Antonio Stranges made their Hammers debuts Friday night against Providence after signing professional tryout agreements earlier in the day. Fabbri picked up an assist in the opening period for his first point with Hamilton.
Fans will have another opportunity to see the newest additions in action as the Hammers close out their three-game homestand.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE PHANTOMS
Lehigh Valley arrives in Hamilton for the final leg of its three-game Canadian road trip, looking to finish on a positive note. The Phantoms opened the trip with a 5-4 overtime win over Laval on Wednesday, with Zayde Wisdom scoring the winner, before dropping a 3-1 decision to Belleville on Friday.
Alex Bump and Jacob Gaucher are two players to watch on the Phantoms. Bump has continued to make an impact in his third season with the club, scoring eight goals in seven games this season. His six-game goal streak tied a franchise record before coming to an end Friday against Belleville. Gaucher also reached a milestone in that matchup, scoring his fifth goal of the season to record his 100th career point with the Phantoms. He now ranks seventh on the club's all-time goals list and leads Lehigh Valley with 10 points (five goals, five assists) this season.
MILESTONE WATCH
Keep an eye on two Hammers closing in on career milestones. Engvall is just one goal away from reaching 100 career professional goals, while Matt Luff needs only one point to hit the 300-point mark.
ROSTER UPDATE
Marshall Warren is back in the mix for Hamilton after rejoining the lineup Friday night following a four-game absence. The blueliner has collected three assists in 10 appearances this season.
BACK ON THE ROAD
The Hammers hit the road for a four-game trip beginning Wednesday in Hershey against the Bears. Hamilton will then visit Lehigh Valley, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Cleveland. Watch all games live on AHLTV on FloHockey.
Hamilton returns to TD Coliseum on November 20 to host the Belleville Senators for its inaugural Hockey Fights Cancer game in partnership with St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation. Specialty warm-up jerseys will be auctioned, with all proceeds supporting robotic-assisted cancer surgery and care at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. Tickets are available at HamiltonHammers.com, with live action available on CABLE14 and AHLTV on FloHockey.