PREVIEW: HAMMERS HOST WOLF PACK FOR SPOOKY THURSDAY SHOWDOWN
Oct 29, 2026
Fresh off a win in their road trip finale, the Hamilton Hammers (2-6-0-1) return to TD Coliseum on Thursday night to host the Hartford Wolf Pack (4-6-0-0) for their Halloween Game presented by Cottage Country.
Costumes, candy and spooky surprises are on tap as the Hammers bring Halloween fun to the rink. Fans are encouraged to dress up and join in on the festivities, with puck drop set for shortly after 7:00 p.m. ET. Tickets are available at HamiltonHammers.com, with live coverage on CABLE14 and AHLTV on FloHockey.
Here’s what you need to know before puck drop:
ROAD TRIP RECAP
The Hammers closed out their three-game road trip with a much-needed win Saturday, earning a 2-1 victory over the Laval Rocket. After dropping the first two games of the trip, Hamilton bounced back with a strong effort against one of the North Division’s top teams, handing Laval just its second loss of the season.
Ethan Bear opened the scoring less than a minute into his 200th career AHL game, but Josh Kotai stole the show, turning aside 33 of 34 shots to earn his first career professional win and help Hamilton close the road trip on a high note.
The Hammers will look to carry that momentum home to TD Coliseum on Thursday night.
CAPTAIN HIGHMORE LEADS THE CHARGE
Matthew Highmore is making his mark as the first captain in Hamilton Hammers history. The veteran forward delivered a big performance in the road trip finale, picking up an assist on Bear’s opening goal before scoring the first shorthanded goal in franchise history to give Hamilton a two-goal lead early in the second period. The two-point outing was his first multi-point game of the season.
The Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, native recorded 40 points (15 goals, 25 assists) in 70 games with the Bridgeport Islanders last season and brings plenty of experience to Hamilton, with 187 career NHL games and more than 300 AHL appearances.
The captain will look to build on his recent performance and continue setting the tone for the group Thursday.
ROOKIES TO WATCH
Thursday’s matchup features some exciting young talent on both sides.
For Hamilton, Quinn Finley is finding his footing, scoring his first career AHL goal against Laval last Friday. Cole Eiserman continues to develop in his first full AHL season, with the New York Islanders’ first-round pick in 2024 recording four points (one goal, three assists) through eight games. The young forwards bring plenty of offensive upside to the lineup for Hamilton as they look to build on their early-season production.
Hartford counters with Liam Greentree and Cole Beaudoin, two young forwards already making an impact. Greentree has tallied seven points (four goals, three assists) in 10 games, while Beaudoin has recorded six points (one goal, five assists) in just four appearances.
With all four players looking to establish themselves at the professional level, their contributions could be an intriguing storyline to follow Thursday night.
WOLF PACK LOOK TO REBOUND
Hartford arrives in Hamilton after splitting a pair of games last weekend, snapping a five-game losing streak with a 2-0 win over Providence on Friday before falling 3-2 to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday. The Wolf Pack nearly made it two straight wins but surrendered the game-winner with just 80 seconds remaining.
Glenn Gawdin has been a steady presence offensively, leading Hartford with eight points (two goals, six assists) through nine games. The Wolf Pack will also look for contributions from across the lineup as they continue their eight-game road trip, with Thursday’s matchup marking their only visit to Hamilton this season.
BACK ON THE ROAD
After Thursday, the Hammers hit the road for a pair of matchups to close out the week, visiting the Syracuse Crunch on Friday before taking on the Utica Comets on Sunday as the calendar turns to November. Both games will be available live on AHLTV on FloHockey.
Hamilton returns to TD Coliseum on November 4 to host the Toronto Marlies for Student Night presented by Mohawk College, kicking off a three-game homestand that also features visits from the Providence Bruins and Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Tickets are available at HamiltonHammers.com.