why are the montreal canadiens nick named the habs?

Answer 1

Habs is an abbreviation of "les habitants," the informal name given to the original settlers of New France, dating back to the 17th Century. So it's a natural fit for the The Montreal Canadiens, established in 1909 and marketed as a French-Canadian hockey team.
Having said that, the nickname might have been the result of an error. According to NHL.com, the first man to refer to the team as "the Habs" was Tex Rickard, owner of Madison Square Garden, in 1924. Rickard apparently told a reporter that the "H" on the Canadiens' sweaters was for "Habitants." Not true. The distinctive C-wrapped-around-H logo stands for "Club de Hockey Canadien."

Answer 2

David B is right. Tex thought the H on the Canadiens sweater was for Habitants. But no it is for "Club de Hockey Canadien" Like most nicknames it just stuck.

Answer 3

The canadians are nicked named Habs which short for the french word "habitante" which translates to habitant. Meaning they are Habitants of canada which would make them canadians. Hopefully this answers your question

Answer 4

It's short for "Les Habitants" which was the name for French people back then. Now we call them Habs for short.

Answer 5

Their first nick name was The Habitants and now they just go by The Habs.
GO HABS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 6

http://www.oldandsold.com/articles31n/canada-19.shtml

Looks like a cultural reference to the historic past of quebec

Answer 7

if you go to www.habs.com and go to about in that site it will tell you about the history of les habitants

Answer 8

"Les Habitantes" or the habitants...I think it was their nickname from a long time ago

Answer 9

It's not habs.... It's "the-has".... as-in "short for hasbeens"

jk
: )

Answer 10

habitants