PREVIEW: HAMMERS HOST BRUINS FOR CANADIAN ARMED FORCES NIGHT
Nov 6, 2026
Friday night will be a special evening as the Hamilton Hammers (3-8-0-2) and Providence Bruins (5-6-0-0) meet at TD Coliseum for Canadian Armed Forces Night. The Royal Canadian Legion will be on site, with the Hammers recognizing and honouring Canadian Armed Forces members throughout the evening.
It's the first of two meetings between the teams this season, with the Hammers looking to get back in the win column against a Bruins squad that arrives riding a three-game winning streak.
Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. ET, with live coverage available on CABLE14 and AHLTV on FloHockey. Tickets are available at HamiltonHammers.com.
Here is what you need to know:
LOOKING TO GET BACK ON TRACK AT HOME
The Hammers continue to search for consistency at TD Coliseum, where their lone win came last Thursday in a 5-4 overtime thriller against the Hartford Wolf Pack. Hamilton is looking to bounce back Friday after suffering a 5-1 loss to the Toronto Marlies in their most recent home outing. With Providence coming to town, the Hammers will have another opportunity to turn their home-ice advantage into a strong performance.
Despite the results, the Hammers have found ways to generate offence on home ice, scoring 16 goals through their first six games at TD Coliseum. Liam Foudy and Cam Thiesing have led the way, each scoring twice.
Foudy leads the Hammers with 11 points (three goals, eight assists) through 12 games this season. The forward is building on a strong campaign with Bridgeport last season, where he recorded 47 points in 60 games. Meanwhile, Thiesing has chipped in five points (two goals, three assists) through 13 games, following a 17-point season with Bridgeport a year ago. Both forwards will look to build on their early-season production and continue contributing offensively.
HEALEY IS ROLLING
Rookie defenceman Ryan Healey has found his offensive touch recently, recording three assists over his last four games. The defenceman has been contributing from the back end, helping generate chances and provide another option on the attack.
PROVIDENCE'S OFFENCE HEATING UP
Providence has found its offensive rhythm after a slow start, scoring 26 goals over its last five games after being outscored 19-12 through its first six. The Bruins' recent surge includes an 8-0 win over Lehigh Valley on November 1, making their attack a significant test for Hamilton’s defensive group.
Leading the charge is Mikey Eyssimont, who tallied 13 points (10 goals, three assists) in just seven games during October to earn AHL Player of the Month honours. He has already recorded a pair of hat tricks this season, showcasing his ability to take over offensively and generate scoring chances in bunches. Since being assigned by the Boston Bruins to Providence in early October, Eyssimont has quickly established himself as one of the Bruins' most dangerous offensive weapons and a player Hamilton will need to keep a close eye on.
MILESTONE WATCH
A pair of Hammers veterans are approaching career milestones Friday. Pierre Engvall is one point shy of 200 career professional points and two goals away from 100, while Matt Luff is just two points away from reaching 300 career points.
ROSTER UPDATE
The Hammers recently announced the addition of forwards Robby Fabbri and Antonio Stranges, both signing professional tryout agreements Friday morning. Fabbri brings 463 games of NHL experience across 11 seasons to Hamilton, while Stranges is coming off his fifth season with the Texas Stars, where he recorded 34 points (14 goals, 20 assists) in 70 games.
On Thursday, the New York Islanders reassigned defenceman Jesse Pulkkinen from Hamilton to the Trenton Ironhawks, the club’s ECHL affiliate.
HOMESTAND FINALE SATURDAY NIGHT
The Hammers will wrap up their three-game homestand Saturday night when they welcome the Lehigh Valley Phantoms to TD Coliseum. Tickets are available at HamiltonHammers.com, with live action available on CABLE14 and AHLTV on FloHockey.