The Brantford Bulldogs honoured former owner and president Michael Andlauer as the inaugural inductee into the newly established Bulldogs Hall of Fame on Friday night at the TD Civic Centre.
Andlauer, who had served as owner of the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs beginning in 2003, brought Steeltown an OHL franchise when he relocated the Belleville Bulls at the outset of the 2015-16 season, overseeing championship efforts by the Hamilton Bulldogs in 2018 and 2022. The team relocated to Brantford beginning in 2023-24 and Andlauer finalized the sale of the Bulldogs franchise to the Hyman family in January 2025, an arrangement that included a Memorandum of Understanding for a 15-year-lease agreement that would see the Brantford Bulldogs become the anchor tenant for a new sports and entertainment facility. It was announced in December 2025 that the City of Brantford approved plans for the new venue, with the Bulldogs expected to play out of the new building beginning in 2028-29.
Through it all, Andlauer has been a champion of community involvement, giving back through his role as founder and chair of the Bulldogs Foundation that continues to excel in areas such as school lunch programs for underprivileged students. The foundation has contributed more than $145,000 to Brantford Bisons youth football, $45,000 to Brant Food for Thought, $10,000 to the Brant Community Healthcare System pediatrics unit and $35,000 as the main sport for the Brantford Community Hockey League’s Take a Shot Program.
“It doesn’t feel right but I’m deeply honoured,” said Andlauer during pre-game remarks. “I’m humbled and honestly, a little uncomfortable on this stage.
“Frankly, I like the art of giving a lot more than receiving.”
Andlauer is now the majority owner of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators, but the OHL remains close to his heart. He oversaw the development of such names as Robert Thomas, Matthew Strome, Logan Morrison, Arthur Kaliyev, Avery Hayes and Nick Lardis during his ownership tenure.
“Michael still, on a fairly regular basis, calls to check in and asks how things are going, and how he can help,” said OHL commissioner Bryan Crawford during pre-game ceremonies. “I couldn’t ask for a more supportive fan of our league.”
The Bulldogs defeated the Oshawa Generals 7-3, improving to 41-9-7-2 and continue to hold down first place in the OHL standings.
