The Surprising Truth: 5 Reasons Why The Montreal Canadiens Are Called The 'Habs'

Few nicknames in professional sports are as globally recognized, yet as widely misunderstood, as "The Habs" for the Montreal Canadiens. For decades, the famous moniker has been synonymous with the most successful franchise in NHL history, a team steeped in tradition and French-Canadian culture. As of this deep dive on December 15, 2025, the true story behind the abbreviation is a fascinating blend of historical context, a common misconception, and a deep nod to the team's cultural roots in Quebec.

The confusion often stems from the team's iconic jersey crest, which features a 'C' wrapped around an 'H'. Many fans and even some sports commentators incorrectly believe the 'H' stands for 'Habs' or 'Habitants'. However, the actual origin of the nickname is a rich historical and cultural narrative that predates the popularization of this simple, three-letter abbreviation.

The Official Name and The True Meaning of the 'H'

To fully grasp the nickname's origin, one must first understand the club's formal and historical identity. The Montreal Canadiens are officially known by their French name: Le Club de Hockey Canadien.

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• The Full Name: Le Club de Hockey Canadien.
• The Translation: The Canadian Hockey Club.
• The Founding Date: December 4, 1909.
• The Logo's 'H': The 'H' inside the 'C' on the famous jersey crest stands for Hockey, completing the official name, Club de Hockey Canadien.
• The 'C': The 'C' stands for Canadien.

This simple fact—that the 'H' stands for 'Hockey'—is the most crucial piece of information that debunks the common myth about the nickname. The team was founded to represent Montreal's Francophone population, and its name and emblem were designed to reflect this heritage from the very beginning.

The True Historical Origin: 'Les Habitants'

The nickname "Habs" is, in fact, an abbreviation of the French term Les Habitants. This is where the story moves beyond a simple logo explanation and into the deep history of Quebec.

What Does 'Habitant' Mean?

The term Habitant (plural: Habitants) is a historical French word that refers to the original French settlers and their descendants who lived along the St. Lawrence River in the former French colony of New France, which is now the Province of Quebec.

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• Settlers of New France: Historically, an habitant was an independent landowner and farmer who worked a plot of land granted to him by a seigneur (lord) in the 17th and 18th centuries.
• Cultural Identity: The term became a symbol of the French-Canadian people, representing their resilience, deep ties to the land, and cultural distinctiveness in North America.
• A Nickname of Pride: By calling the Canadiens Les Habitants, the nickname connected the team directly to the founding culture and people of Quebec, creating a powerful, unifying identity for its Francophone fan base.

The nickname was initially bestowed upon the team by anglophones, likely as a descriptive term for the French-Canadian team, and was eventually shortened to the familiar "Habs."

The Famous Misconception: Tex Rickard and the 1924 Error

While the cultural origin of the nickname is rooted in the term Habitants, the popularization of the abbreviation "Habs" is often attributed to a famous error that occurred in the 1920s. This anecdote is so pervasive that it is often mistakenly cited as the sole origin.

The story involves Tex Rickard, the owner of Madison Square Garden in New York.

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• The Date: The event is generally placed around 1924, when the Canadiens were playing in New York.
• The Mistake: Rickard, when speaking to a reporter, reportedly pointed to the 'H' on the Canadiens' jersey and incorrectly stated that it stood for "Habitants."
• The Spread: Because Rickard was a prominent figure and the team was playing in a major American media market, this incorrect explanation quickly spread in the English-language press, solidifying the connection between the logo's 'H' and the nickname 'Habs' for a wider audience.

Although this story is a charming piece of hockey lore, it is a popularization, not the origin. The nickname was already in use before 1924.

The Earliest Verified Use of the Nickname

The true, verifiable history of the nickname pushes the timeline back by a full decade, proving that Tex Rickard's story is a myth of popularization rather than creation. This fact is key to establishing the topical authority of the history.

The earliest known printed reference to the Canadiens as "the Habs" was found in a French-Canadian newspaper, Le Devoir.

• The Publication: Le Devoir, a historically significant French-language newspaper in Quebec.
• The Date: February 9, 1914.
• The Significance: This date confirms the use of the abbreviation "Habs" in the local, Francophone community long before Tex Rickard's famous gaffe in New York. This suggests the nickname was an organic, local abbreviation of Les Habitants that already existed among the team's most dedicated fans.

This early usage underlines that the nickname is fundamentally a French-Canadian term of endearment and identity, not an American media invention.

The Legacy of 'Habs' and 'Les Glorieux'

Today, the Montreal Canadiens carry multiple nicknames, each speaking to a different aspect of their identity and legendary status. While "Habs" is the most common English abbreviation, the team is also known by the equally powerful French moniker: Les Glorieux (The Glorious Ones).

The team's nickname is a constant reminder of its mission, which was to feature Francophone players and represent the French-Canadian identity. The nickname "Habs" is a concise, powerful link to the foundational culture of Quebec, connecting the modern NHL franchise to the original settlers of New France.

Whether you call them the Canadiens, the Habs, or Les Glorieux, the team's identity is one of the richest and most storied in all of professional sports. The nickname has endured for over a century because it successfully bridges the team's official name (Club de Hockey Canadien) with its cultural soul (Les Habitants), creating a topical authority that few other teams can match.

In short, the next time you see the 'H' on the iconic red, white, and blue jersey, remember that while it stands for Hockey, the nickname 'Habs' is a tribute to Habitants—the proud French-Canadian pioneers who built the foundation of Quebec.