Montreal Canadiens facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Montreal Canadiens Canadiens de Montréal
Conference	Eastern
Division	Atlantic
Founded	1909
History	Montreal Canadiens 1910–1917 (NHA) 1917–present (NHL)
Home arena	Bell Centre
City	Montreal, Quebec
Colours	Red, white, blue
Media	English TSN TSN Radio 690 French RDS 98.5 FM
Owner(s)	Molson family (majority owner) (Geoff Molson, chairman)
General manager	Kent Hughes
Head coach	Martin St. Louis
Captain	Nick Suzuki
Minor league affiliates	Laval Rocket (AHL) Trois-Rivières Lions (ECHL)
Stanley Cups	24 (1915–16, 1923–24, 1929–30, 1930–31, 1943–44, 1945–46, 1952–53, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1964–65, 1965–66, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1972–73, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1985–86, 1992–93)
Conference championships	8 (1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1980–81, 1985–86, 1988–89, 1992–93)
Presidents' Trophies	0
Division championships	24 (1927–28, 1928–29, 1930–31, 1931–32, 1936–37, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1984–85, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1991–92, 2007–08, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2016–17)

The Montreal Canadiens (in French: Les Canadiens de Montréal), also known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team. They play in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Canadiens are part of the National Hockey League (NHL). They compete in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Since 1996, their home games have been at the Bell Centre. Before that, they played at the Montreal Forum for 70 years.

The Canadiens started in 1909. This makes them the oldest professional ice hockey team still playing today. They are also the only NHL team that existed before the NHL itself began. The team is one of the "Original Six" teams. These six teams made up the NHL from 1942 until 1967. The Canadiens won the Stanley Cup in the 1992–93 season. This was the last time a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup.

The Canadiens have won the Stanley Cup 24 times. This is more than any other team in NHL history. They won 23 of these cups after the NHL was founded. They also won 22 cups since 1927, when only NHL teams could compete for the Stanley Cup.

Team History: From Early Days to Today

The Canadiens were started by J. Ambrose O'Brien on December 4, 1909. They were one of the first teams in the National Hockey Association (NHA). The NHA was the league before the NHL. The team was meant for French-speaking players and owners in Montreal. They were named "Les Canadiens," which meant "The Canadians" in French.

Their first season was not good; they finished last. After that, George Kennedy took over. The team got better and won their first Stanley Cup in the 1915–16 season. In 1917, the Canadiens and four other NHA teams formed the NHL. They won their first NHL Stanley Cup in the 1923–24 season. This team was led by Howie Morenz. In 1926, the team moved to the Montreal Forum.

The team started the 1930s with more Stanley Cup wins in 1930 and 1931. During the Great Depression, the team faced money problems. They almost had to sell the team. But local investors helped keep the Canadiens in Montreal.

Game between the Canadiens and the New York Rangers in 1962.

In the 1940s, the Canadiens became strong again. They were led by the "Punch Line" of Maurice "Rocket" Richard, Toe Blake, and Elmer Lach. From 1953 to 1960, the team won six Stanley Cups. They even won five in a row from 1956 to 1960. New stars like Jean Beliveau, Dickie Moore, Doug Harvey, Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion, Jacques Plante, and Henri Richard (Maurice's brother) joined the team.

The Canadiens won ten more championships between 1965 and 1979. This included another amazing run of four straight Cups from 1976 to 1979. In the 1976–77 season, they set team records for fewest losses (8) and most points (132). The next season, 1977–78, they had a 28-game unbeaten streak. Stars from this era included Guy Lafleur, Yvan Cournoyer, Ken Dryden, and Larry Robinson. Scotty Bowman coached the team to five of these Stanley Cup wins.

The Canadiens won Stanley Cups in 1986 and 1993. This meant they had won at least one championship in every decade from the 1910s to the 1990s. In 1996, the team moved from the Montreal Forum to the Molson Centre. This new arena is now called the Bell Centre.

After 1995, the Canadiens struggled for a while. They missed the playoffs often. Fans worried the team might move to the United States. In 2001, the team was sold to American businessman George N. Gillett Jr.. However, there was a rule that the team could not move to a new city without everyone's agreement. The team became successful again. In 2009, the Molson family bought the team back.

In the 2008–09 season, the Canadiens celebrated their 100th anniversary. They hosted the NHL All-Star Game and the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. On December 29, 2008, they became the first NHL team to reach 3,000 victories.

The Bell Centre with banners celebrating the Montreal Canadiens centennial.

For the 2020–21 season, the Canadiens played only against other Canadian teams. This was due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They made it to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in 28 years. They beat the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets. Then they defeated the Vegas Golden Knights. However, they lost the Finals to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

In 2021–22, the Canadiens had a very tough season. They finished last in the league. This was the first time since the 1939–40 season. The team decided to "rebuild" their roster. They finished fifth-last in the 2022–23 season.

Team Identity: Colors, Logos, and More

The Canadiens team uses both English and French. Announcements and press releases are in both languages. Their website and social media are also bilingual. At home games, the Canadian national anthem, "O Canada," is sung in French first, then in English.

Team Crest and Jersey Design

Early logos used by the Canadiens

Logo used from 1909 to 1910

Logo used from 1912 to 1913

Original design of the "CHC" logo. (1917–19, 1921–22)

The Canadiens' logo is one of the oldest and most famous in sports. The classic 'C' and 'H' were first used together in the 1917–18 season. The "H" stands for "hockey," not "Habitants" (a common mistake). The team's nickname "the Habs" came from American owner Tex Rickard in 1924. He thought the "H" meant "Habitants."

Since 1911, the team's colors have been blue, white, and red. The home jersey is mostly red. It has blue and white stripes on the arms, chest, and waist. The away jersey is mostly white with red and blue stripes. This basic design has been used since 1914. Because of the team's long history, the jersey is sometimes called La Sainte-Flanelle (the holy flannel sweater).

Since 2015, the Canadiens' red home jersey has the French version of the NHL logo (LNH) on the collar. This shows their French Canadian heritage. The white away jersey still has the English NHL logo.

The Canadiens wore different designs before 1914. Their first jersey in 1909–10 was blue with a white C. The next season, they wore a red shirt with a green maple leaf and a C logo. In 2009–10, they wore these old designs to celebrate their 100th anniversary.

In the 2020–21 season, the Canadiens introduced a "Reverse Retro" alternate jersey. It was blue with red stripes. A second "Reverse Retro" jersey came out in 2022–23. It was light blue with white and dark blue stripes.

The Canadiens' colors are a big part of French Canadian culture. The short story "The Hockey Sweater" by Roch Carrier talks about how important the team and its jersey were in Quebec in the 1940s. A part of this story is even on the Canadian five-dollar bill.

Team Motto

The Canadiens have a special motto:

Nos bras meurtris vous tendent le flambeau, à vous toujours de le porter bien haut.

To you from failing hands we throw the torch. Be yours to hold it high.

This motto comes from the poem "In Flanders Fields" by John McCrae. He wrote it in 1915, a year before the Canadiens won their first Stanley Cup. You can see this motto on the wall of the Canadiens' dressing room.

Team Mascot: Youppi!

The Canadiens mascot, Youppi!, poses for photographs at a Rogers Media event

Since the 2004–05 NHL season, the Canadiens have had an official mascot named Youppi!. He was the first costumed mascot in the team's long history. Youppi! used to be the mascot for the Montreal Expos baseball team. When that team moved, Youppi! joined the Canadiens. He is the first mascot in professional sports to switch leagues. In 2020, Youppi! was honored in The Mascot Hall of Fame.

Team Rivalries: Big Games and History

The Canadiens have big rivalries with two other "Original Six" teams. These are the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins.

The rivalry with the Toronto Maple Leafs is the oldest. They first played each other in 1917. They have met 16 times in the playoffs, including five Stanley Cup Finals. This rivalry is often seen as a symbol of the English and French language divide in Canada.

The rivalry with the Boston Bruins is also very strong. They have played the Canadiens more than any other team. They have met 34 times in the playoffs, with seven of those being in the Finals.

The Canadiens also had a rivalry with the Quebec Nordiques. This was called the "Battle of Quebec." This rivalry lasted from 1979 to 1995.

Broadcasting: Watching and Listening to Games

Montreal Canadiens games are broadcast in both French and English. CHMP 98.5 is the French radio station for the Canadiens. CKGM, TSN Radio 690, is the English radio station.

For television, Réseau des sports (RDS) broadcasts games in French. TSN2 broadcasts games in English. Other games are shown nationally on Sportsnet or CBC.

Season by Season Performance

This is a list of the last five seasons completed by the Canadiens. For the full season-by-season history, see List of Montreal Canadiens seasons.

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Players and Team Staff

Current Team Roster

Updated January 3, 2023

#	Nat	Player	Pos	S/G	Age	Acquired	Birthplace
34		Allen, JakeJake Allen	G	L	34	2020	Fredericton, New Brunswick
17		Anderson, JoshJosh Anderson	RW	R	31	2020	Burlington, Ontario
40		Armia, JoelJoel Armia	RW	R	32	2018	Pori, Finland
52		Barron, JustinJustin Barron	D	R	23	2022	Halifax, Nova Scotia
41		Byron, PaulPaul Byron	LW	L	36	2015	Ottawa, Ontario
22		Caufield, ColeCole Caufield	RW	R	24	2019	Mosinee, Wisconsin
77		Dach, KirbyKirby Dach	C	R	24	2022	St. Albert, Alberta
63		Dadonov, EvgeniiEvgenii Dadonov	RW	L	36	2022	Chelyabinsk, Soviet Union
27		Drouin, JonathanJonathan Drouin	LW	L	30	2017	Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec
28		Dvorak, ChristianChristian Dvorak	C	L	29	2021	Palos, Illinois
44		Edmundson, JoelJoel Edmundson (A)	D	L	32	2020	Brandon, Manitoba
71		Evans, JakeJake Evans	C	R	29	2014	Toronto, Ontario
11		Gallagher, BrendanBrendan Gallagher (A)	RW	R	33	2010	Edmonton, Alberta
21		Guhle, KaidenKaiden Guhle	D	L	23	2020	Edmonton, Alberta
54		Harris, JordanJordan Harris	D	L	24	2018	Haverhill, Massachusetts
68		Hoffman, MikeMike Hoffman	LW	L	35	2021	Kitchener, Ontario
26		Kovacevic, JohnathanJohnathan Kovacevic	D	R	27	2022	Niagara Falls, Ontario
8		Matheson, MikeMike Matheson	D	L	31	2022	Pointe-Claire, Quebec
91		Monahan, SeanSean Monahan	C	L	30	2022	Brampton, Ontario
35		Montembeault, SamSam Montembeault	G	L	28	2021	Bécancour, Quebec
55		Pezzetta, MichaelMichael Pezzetta	LW	L	27	2016	Toronto, Ontario
31		Price, CareyCarey Price	G	L	37	2005	Anahim Lake, British Columbia
90		Richard, AnthonyAnthony Richard	C	L	28	2022	Trois-Rivieres, Quebec
58		Savard, DavidDavid Savard	D	R	34	2021	Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec
20		Slafkovsky, JurajJuraj Slafkovsky	LW	L	21	2022	Košice, Slovakia
14		Suzuki, NickNick Suzuki (C)	C	R	25	2018	London, Ontario
6		Wideman, ChrisChris Wideman	D	R	35	2021	St. Louis, Missouri
72		Xhekaj, ArberArber Xhekaj	D	L	24	2021	Hamilton, Ontario

Honored Players and Staff

Retired Jersey Numbers

Some of the retired numbers at Bell Centre, photographed in 2010

The Canadiens have retired 15 jersey numbers for 18 players. This is the most of any team in the NHL. All these players were born in Canada. They were also part of at least two Stanley Cup winning Canadiens teams. Howie Morenz was the first player to have his number retired, on November 2, 1937. The NHL also retired Wayne Gretzky's No. 99 for all teams in 2000.

Hockey Hall of Fame Members

Many Canadiens players and staff are in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Thirty-seven players are from three famous teams that won many Stanley Cups. Howie Morenz and Georges Vezina were the first Canadiens honored in 1945. Pierre Turgeon was the most recent in 2023. Many coaches and managers are also in the Hall of Fame.

Players

Builders (Coaches and Managers)

Team Captains

Head Coaches

First-Round Draft Picks

Team Records: Top Players and Stats

Top Scorers in Team History

These are the top ten players with the most points in Canadiens history.

•  *  – current Canadiens player

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game

Maurice 'The Rocket' Richard is the Canadiens' all-time leader in goals. The trophy awarded annually to the NHL's leading goal scorer is named in honour of Richard.

Player Records: Career and Season Highs

Career Records for Skaters

Season Records for Skaters

* Indicates a league record.

Goaltender Records: Career and Season Highs

Career Records for Goaltenders

Season Records for Goaltenders

* Indicates a league record.

See also

• Bell Sports Complex
• List of Montreal Canadiens award winners
• List of Montreal Canadiens general managers
• List of Montreal Canadiens goaltenders
• List of Montreal Canadiens presidents
• Montreal Junior Canadiens