Why are the Montreal Canadiens called 'Habs'?

Question

I'm a NH-based Canadiens fan (not Bruins, go figure!), but I've never been able to figure out why the Canadiens are called 'Habs'. If anyone could answer this, I'd appreciate it! Thanks so much!

Answer 1

the CH stands for Le Club de Hockey Canadien, C for Canadiens and H for Hockey, Habitant is just a nick name given back in the day and its Habs in english the H never stand for Habs never did. Habitants is the name used to refer to both the French settlers and the America-born inhabitants of French origin who farmed the land along the two shores of the St. Lawrence waterway in what is the present-day Province of Quebec in Canada. this is what it means I'm a HUGE Habs fan as you can see on my pic and my name is HABITANT.

before they were called Le Club de Hockey Canadien they were called Le Club Athletique-Canadien from 1909 to 1917 then change the name to Le Club de Hockey Canadien.

here are the logos from the past:
1909-1917 CA, the A stands for Athletique:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/83/Canadiens_1913.gif

1917 changed to CH, they changed the logo a little a few times over the year but it was always the same colours and the H stands for Hockey always has and always will be HOCKEY: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/99/Montreal_Canadiens.gif


GO HABS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Answer 2

In 1924, Madison sq. backyard proprietor Tex Rickard develop into falsely informed by technique of someone that the "H" stood for "habitant", a French observe that in lately develop into used to point the farmers of Quebec. Rickard develop into informed that the French gamers on the crew got here from the farms and they were for this reason "habitants" or "habs". on the time, the Canadiens were recognized because the French crew of Montreal as adverse to the Montreal Maroons, the English crew. On an aspect be conscious, the Montreal emblem of the C wrapped around the H stands for club de Hockey Canadien. In 1917, on the founding of the NHL, the Canadiens replaced their call to that from the previous club Athletique Canadien.

Answer 3

It's easier just to quote it...

Legend has it that the "H" on the Canadiens logo stands for "Habs" instead of "Hockey" as in Club de Hockey Canadien.
In 1924, Madison Square Garden owner Tex Rickard was falsely told by someone that the "H" stood for "habitant", a French word that in those days was used to denote the farmers of Quebec.

Rickard was told that the French players on the team came from the farms and that they were therefore "habitants" or "Habs". At the time, the Canadiens were considered Montreal's "French" team, as opposed to the primairly "English" Montreal Maroons.

Answer 4

Les Habitants is a term that goes way back used for the people of French Quebec. As Montreal was the only team in Quebec, and had the most French fans and players, the name was passed on to the team.

Answer 5

They are referred to as Les Habitants...short form version being Habs...just a nickname.

Answer 6

It's usually pronounced "Da 'abs" because french people can't pronounce 'H'. It's funny as hell when they try too, kinda comes out like "Haych". I hope someone gives you the answer your looking for. I think it has something to do with at one point, there were 2 Montreal teams, the Maroons (English) and the Canadiens(French). Habitant means like home team, or our team in french and so they (Canadians) were nicknamed "Les Habitant" or the home team, shortened with time, and more English fans after the Maroons arena burnt down and they were forced to fold, to Habs.

Answer 7

The Habs-beens. Because they were good a long time ago when there were only six teams in the league.

Answer 8

they are called habs..because the SABRES will HAB the cup!!!
and montreal will HAB NOT!!