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What are Habs in hockey? Why Canadiens are known by French nickname
TL;DR
The Montreal Canadiens, a storied NHL team, are commonly referred to as the 'Habs.' This nickname has French origins and is widely used by hockey fans.
Key points
- Montreal Canadiens are known as the Habs
- Nickname originates from French term 'Les Habitants'
- Team last won Stanley Cup in 1993
Montreal CanadiensStanley Cup
What are Habs in hockey? Why Canadiens are known by French nickname originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Montreal Canadiens are trying to win their first Stanley Cup since 1993.
Along the way, they'll be called the Habs by plenty of hockey fans. But for the uninitiated, that's a confusing term.
Where does it come from? What does it mean?
These are the answers.
What are Habs in hockey?
"Habs" is a nickname for the Montreal Canadiens.
It stems from the French, Les Habitants, which is what the 17th-century French settlers were referred to in Quebec.
It makes sense once you see that -- Habs is just that French phrase in a shorter, nickname form.
The nickname is meant to represent the heritage of Montreal.
The name "Habitants" first was used to refer to the hockey team in a 1914 news article -- fittingly, after the lads from Montreal smashed Toronto, 9-3.
One common misconception, though -- although there's an 'H' within the 'C' of their logo, the Canadiens' actually have that letter because they are the 'Club de Hockey Canadien," not because of the Habs nickname.
Also a cool French tidbit: The Canadiens' home uniform features the French-language version of the NHL logo (LNH), although the road uniforms feature NHL as is.
One of the most popular taglines for the Canadiens is "Go Habs Go," which they'll be hoping to continue in this postseason.
More NHL news:
Q&A
What does the nickname 'Habs' mean in hockey?
The nickname 'Habs' is derived from 'Les Habitants,' referring to the early French settlers of Canada.
Why are the Montreal Canadiens called the Habs?
The Montreal Canadiens are called the Habs due to their historical connection to French-speaking culture in Canada, with the term 'Habs' being a shorthand for 'Les Habitants.'
When was the last time the Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup?
The Montreal Canadiens last won the Stanley Cup in 1993.
