Bridgeport Shows Symmetry with Islanders Name Change

The New York Islanders and their AHL affiliate team in Bridgeport have always been connected.
Rink to rink, the distance between the two is one of the shortest in the NHL. On the ice, their styles are similar, and the team colors have matched and evolved together since 2005.
On Monday, the symmetry between Islanders and their affiliate got even closer as
Bridgeport adopted a new moniker
, the same name as its parent club.
Introducing, the Bridgeport Islanders.

"Having the Islanders name associated with Bridgeport creates a stronger tie between the NHL team and the top development team," Bridgeport General Manager and New York Islanders Assistant General Manager, Chris Lamoriello, said in a press release. "Every time a player puts on the Bridgeport uniform, he will be putting on the identical uniform the NHL team wears, except for the new logo."

The name change was also accompanied by a fresh look. Bridgeport unveiled a new crest, with subtle nods to the New York Islanders. For example, the focal point of the new Bridgeport Islanders logo is the B on the crest, partially formed with a hockey stick. This look is inspired by the iconic "NY" in the Islanders' logo, which has included a hockey stick and puck as its stem since 1972. Additionally, all Bridgeport players will be wearing "NY" on their chest, in the form of the tape on the blade.
While it may seem cosmetic, it's another daily reminder of organizational synergy.
"From a player perspective and a coach and staff perspective, it really reinforces the connection between the two teams," Lamoriello said. "Both teams are going to carry the same name, so I think it's going to be very meaningful and I think they're going to be very excited about this bond that's going to be further created now."
The Bridgeport Islanders unveiled a new website and social media handles to go along with the name and logo changes unveiled on Monday. The phrase, We Are All Islanders, is featured prominently on the new site and is a mentality meant to be shared across Isles Nation, from players to staff to fans.
"This is more about us moving forward with the vision of creating that unity every step of the way with our parent club," Bridgeport President of Business Operations Brent Rossi said. "How we operate in the big club is how we're operating here."
The name change is a constant reminder of the We Are All Islanders philosophy. The symmetry between the clubs is also aimed at enhancing the Islanders' identity in Connecticut and Metro New York, and linking the fans across the Long Island Sound.
"This was really an enhancement," Lamoriello said. "To create that collective fanbase from Long Island into the Greater Connecticut Region that we're playing in. That's what we're really excited about, trying to bring all of this together so this fanbase can really experience the whole look of the organization. We've done NHL exhibition games in Bridgeport, so this is trying to enhance as much as we can in every category."

For 20 years, Bridgeport has played a role in the Islanders' success, and telling that story of development was part of the team's rebrand. Seventeen members of the current New York Islanders team have played for the Isles AHL affiliate. It's where Ryan Pulock, Adam Pelech and Scott Mayfield, foundational pieces of one of the stingiest NHL defenses, learned their craft.
It's where Anders Lee, Brock Nelson, Casey Cizikas and Matt Martin all got their introduction to the organization, before each playing over 500 games - or 600 in Nelson and Martin's case - with the New York Islanders. It's where the next crop of stars is currently developing. The seeds planted at Webster Bank will one day bloom at UBS Arena.
"Close to 90% of players who've played in the NHL have gone through the AHL," Rossi said. "So we want people here in Connecticut, kids in Connecticut who grow up to be Bridgeport Islanders fans, to see these [players] get drafted, come into our system, and then follow them into the New York Islanders system. Then hopefully, that also helps to expand the fandom of the Islanders within this area, within this market which we see as a huge opportunity for us especially with the UBS Arena that's opening in the fall and the proximity of that venue to our fans here in Connecticut and Westchester."
Both Lamoriello and Rossi reaffirmed the broader Islanders organization's commitment to Bridgeport after a successful 20-year partnership, especially with the B being prevalent on the uniform. After Monday's announcement, the tightness between the Islanders organization and Bridgeport only appears to be getting stronger.