PREVIEW: HAMMERS OPEN HOMESTAND AGAINST MARLIES
Nov 4, 2026
The Hamilton Hammers (3-7-0-2) return to TD Coliseum on Wednesday night, hosting the Toronto Marlies (6-4-1-0) for Student Night presented by Mohawk College. The first 2,500 fans through the doors will receive a Hammers rally towel, courtesy of Mohawk College.
Toronto has claimed all four previous meetings this season, though the Hammers came close in their home opener on October 9, falling 5-4 in a shootout. Hamilton will be looking to get one back on home ice and kick off its three-game homestand with a win.
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:
BACK ON HOME ICE
The Hammers went 1-1-0-1 last week, highlighted by their first home victory, a thrilling 5-4 overtime win over the Hartford Wolf Pack. Matthew Highmore led the way with a pair of goals, including the overtime winner, to send the crowd home happy.
Hamilton followed that up with a loss to Syracuse on Friday before earning a point in a hard-fought 3-2 shootout loss to the Utica Comets on Sunday. Josh Kotai was outstanding between the pipes against Utica, turning aside 35 shots to keep the Hammers in the game.
Now back at TD Coliseum, Hamilton will look to put together a strong performance against Toronto and build some momentum as it opens a three-game homestand.
ANOTHER QEW SHOWDOWN
The Hammers and Marlies have become familiar foes early in the season, with Wednesday marking their fifth meeting already. Toronto took the most recent matchup, earning a 4-1 victory on October 21.
Brendan Brisson has been a major factor in the Marlies' success against Hamilton, recording eight points (five goals, three assists) across the four meetings. That production includes a hat trick at TD Coliseum on October 11 in their 5-2 victory.
Hamilton will look to get one back against its provincial rivals and start closing the gap in the season series. Five meetings will remain after this matchup, leaving plenty of opportunities for the Hammers to shift the rivalry in their favour.
LUFF PROVIDING A SPARK UP FRONT
Matt Luff enters Wednesday coming off his second multi-point performance of the season, recording a goal and an assist in Sunday's matchup against Utica. Luff has also opened the scoring for the Hammers in two games this season, providing an early spark to Hamilton's offence.
A veteran of more than 350 career AHL games, Luff has six points (two goals, four assists) through 11 games this season. He'll look to carry that momentum into the matchup with the Marlies.
TORONTO LOOKS TO GET BACK ON TRACK
The Marlies have put together a strong start to the season and sit second in the North Division, but enter Wednesday looking to turn things around after losing three of their last four games. Their most recent setback came Sunday, a 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Belleville Senators.
Even with the recent dip in results, Toronto has been getting plenty of production from its top forwards. Brisson and Logan Shaw have each collected 15 points through 11 games, tying them for second in the AHL scoring race.
The Hammers will have to be sharp defensively against a Toronto lineup that features plenty of offensive firepower, particularly with Brisson and Shaw leading the way.
MILESTONE WATCH
Hamilton has a couple of veteran forwards closing in on significant career milestones. Pierre Engvall is one point shy of 200 career professional points and two goals away from reaching 100, while Luff needs just two points to hit the 300-point mark.
THE HOMESTAND CONTINUES
The Hammers will remain on home ice this weekend, welcoming the Providence Bruins on Friday for Canadian Armed Forces Night before closing out the homestand against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Saturday. Tickets for both games are available at HamiltonHammers.com, with live action available on CABLE14 and AHLTV on FloHockey.