Islanders hire ex-NHLer Jay McKee as coach for new AHL team
The New York Islanders have appointed Jay McKee as the head coach for their new AHL team, the Hamilton Hammers. McKee, a former NHL defenseman, has extensive coaching experience in the OHL, where he achieved notable success. This will mark his first head coaching role in the AHL after a successful tenure in junior hockey.
- ▪Jay McKee has been hired as the head coach of the Hamilton Hammers, the Islanders' new AHL team.
- ▪He previously coached the Brantford Bulldogs in the OHL, leading them to a championship title.
- ▪McKee has a background as a player in the NHL, where he spent 14 seasons and was known for his defensive skills.
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NHL New York Islanders Islanders hire ex-NHLer Jay McKee as coach for new AHL team By Mollie Walker Published May 29, 2026, 12:11 p.m. ET See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The New York Post on Google The Islanders hired longtime OHL coach and former NHL defenseman Jay McKee to lead their new AHL club in Hamilton, Ont. After spending over a decade coaching in the Canadian junior league, McKee returns to the AHL to spearhead the newly-named Hamilton Hammers in their first season of existence in 2026-27. The 48-year-old spent the past five years as head coach of the Bulldogs, a team that relocated from Hamilton to Brantford in 2023. Head coach Jay McKee of the Brantford Bulldogs observing the game from the bench.
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