The Montreal Canadiens, often called the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team in Montreal. Playing in the NHL's Atlantic Division, they've called the Bell Centre home since 1996. Before that, the iconic Montreal Forum hosted the Canadiens for decades, witnessing most of their Stanley Cup victories.
December 4, 1909: Canadiens Founded as Charter Member of NHA
J. Ambrose O'Brien founded the Montreal Canadiens on December 4, 1909, as a charter member of the National Hockey Association (NHA), the precursor to the NHL.
1909: Montreal Canadiens Founded
The Montreal Canadiens were founded in 1909.
1909: Original Montreal Canadiens Jersey
The first Montreal Canadiens jersey, worn in the 1909-1910 season, was blue with a white C.
1911: Team Colours First Used
The Montreal Canadiens began using their signature blue, white, and red colour scheme in 1911.
1914: Habitants Nickname
The Montreal Canadiens acquired the nickname "the Habitants" as early as 1914.
1914: Home Jersey Design First Used
The Montreal Canadiens began using their home red jersey in 1914.
1914: Adoption of Current Jersey Design
The Montreal Canadiens used multiple jersey designs before adopting their current design in 1914.
1915: Team Motto
The Montreal Canadiens adopted their team motto, "To you from failing hands we throw the torch; be yours to hold it high." in 1915.
1915: Canadiens' First Stanley Cup Championship
The Montreal Canadiens won their first Stanley Cup championship in the 1915–16 season.
1917: Name Change and First Logo
The Montreal Canadiens changed their name in the 1917-1918 season to "Club de hockey Canadien" from "Club athlétique Canadien", and began using the 'C' and 'H' logo.
1917: Beginning of the Rivalry with Toronto
The Montreal Canadiens first faced the Toronto Maple Leafs (then the Toronto Arenas) in 1917, marking the beginning of their long-standing rivalry.
1917: Formation of the NHL
The Montreal Canadiens, along with four other NHA teams, formed the National Hockey League (NHL) in 1917.
1923: Canadiens' First NHL Stanley Cup
The Montreal Canadiens, led by Howie Morenz, won their first Stanley Cup as members of the NHL in the 1923–24 season.
1924: Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins Rivalry
The Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins first played each other in 1924, which marked the beginning of their rivalry.
1924: First called "the Habs"
The Montreal Canadiens were first referred to as "the Habs" in 1924 by American Tex Rickard.
1925: Worst Point Percentage Ever
The Montreal Canadiens had their third worst point percentage ever in 2022, with their worst being in the 1925-1926 season.
1925: Current Jersey Form
The Montreal Canadiens jersey took on its current recognizable form in 1925.
1926: Canadiens Move to the Montreal Forum
The Montreal Canadiens moved to the Montreal Forum for the 1926–27 season.
1927: NHL Teams Compete Exclusively for Stanley Cup
Starting in 1927, NHL teams became the only ones to compete for the Stanley Cup.
1930: Canadiens' Stanley Cup Victories
The Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup in 1930 and 1931.
1931: Canadiens' Stanley Cup Victory
The Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup in 1931.
November 2, 1937: Howie Morenz's Number Retired
Howie Morenz became the first Montreal Canadiens player to have his number retired, on November 2, 1937.
1937: Montreal Maroons Cease Operations
The Montreal Maroons, the Canadiens' cross-town rivals, ceased operations after the 1937–38 NHL season. Several Maroons players subsequently joined the Canadiens.
1938: Only Canadian Teams in the League
For a time, from 1938 to 1970, the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs were the only Canadian teams in the NHL.
1939: Last Place Finish
The Montreal Canadiens last finished in last place during the 1939-1940 season, before their last-place finish in 2021.
1942: Original Six Era Begins
The Original Six era of the NHL, which included the Canadiens, began in 1942.
1945: Morenz and Vezina: First Canadiens in Hall of Fame
Howie Morenz and Georges Vezina became the first Montreal Canadiens players to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1945.
1952: Logo Evolution
The Montreal Canadiens' logo evolved to its current form during the 1952-1953 season.
1953: Start of Canadiens' Dominant Era
The Montreal Canadiens began a dominant era in 1953.
1955: Start of First Notable Dynasty
The Montreal Canadiens' first notable dynasty, with numerous future Hockey Hall of Fame inductees, began in 1955.
1956: Canadiens Begin Five Straight Stanley Cup Wins
The Montreal Canadiens embarked on an unprecedented run of five consecutive Stanley Cup victories in 1956.
1960: End of Canadiens' Dynasty and Five Straight Cups
The Montreal Canadiens' dynasty of the 1950s, which included a record five consecutive Stanley Cup victories, came to an end in 1960.
1960: End of First Notable Dynasty
The Montreal Canadiens' first notable dynasty concluded in 1960, having featured 12 future Hockey Hall of Fame players.
1964: Start of Second Notable Dynasty
The Montreal Canadiens' second notable dynasty commenced in 1964, featuring a new generation of future Hockey Hall of Fame players.
1965: Another Successful Era for the Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens began another successful era, adding ten more championships in 15 seasons, starting in 1965.
1967: End of the Original Six Era
The Original Six era of the NHL came to an end with the league's expansion in 1967.
1969: End of Second Notable Dynasty
The Montreal Canadiens' second notable dynasty concluded in 1969, with 11 players eventually inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
1970: End of an Era
The Vancouver Canucks and Buffalo Sabres joined the NHL in 1970, ending the period where the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs were the only two Canadian teams in the league.
1975: Beginning of Third Notable Dynasty
The Montreal Canadiens embarked on their third notable dynasty in 1975, marked by the emergence of another wave of future Hockey Hall of Fame talents.
1976: Canadiens Begin Four-Straight Cup Run
The Montreal Canadiens began their run of four straight Stanley Cup victories in 1976.
1977: Canadiens Set Multiple Records
The Montreal Canadiens set several team records during the 1976–77 season, including fewest losses in an 80-game season, longest home unbeaten streak, and best goal differential.
1979: End of Canadiens' Four-Straight Cup Run
The Montreal Canadiens' run of four consecutive Stanley Cups ended in 1979.
1979: End of Third Notable Dynasty
The Montreal Canadiens' third notable dynasty came to an end in 1979, with 13 players ultimately earning induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
1979: Quebec Nordiques Join the NHL
The Quebec Nordiques joined the NHL in 1979, which sparked a rivalry with the Montreal Canadiens.
1984: Gallivan and Lecavalier Receive Foster Hewitt Award
Danny Gallivan and Rene Lecavalier, broadcasters for the Montreal Canadiens, were the inaugural recipients of the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award from the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984.
1985: Doug Smith Receives Foster Hewitt Award
Doug Smith, a broadcaster for the Montreal Canadiens, was honored with the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award by the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985.
1986: Canadiens Win Stanley Cup with Patrick Roy
The Montreal Canadiens, led by rookie goaltender Patrick Roy, won the Stanley Cup in 1986.
1988: Dick Irvin Jr. Awarded Foster Hewitt Memorial Award
Dick Irvin Jr., a broadcaster for the Montreal Canadiens, received the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award from the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988.
1992: Canadiens' Last Stanley Cup Victory
The Montreal Canadiens won their last Stanley Cup in 1992, marking the last time a Canadian team won the championship.
1993: Canadiens Extend Championship Streak to Every Decade
The Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup in 1993, continuing their streak of winning at least one championship in every decade from the 1910s to the 1990s.
1995: End of the "Battle of Quebec"
The Quebec Nordiques moved to Colorado in 1995, ending the "Battle of Quebec" rivalry with the Montreal Canadiens.
1995: Patrick Roy Departs Canadiens
Patrick Roy left the Montreal Canadiens in 1995, leading to a period of decline for the team.
1996: Canadiens Move to Bell Centre
In 1996, the Montreal Canadiens moved from the Montreal Forum to their current home, the Molson Centre (now known as Bell Centre).
1996: Canadiens Bid Farewell to the Montreal Forum
The Montreal Canadiens moved out of the Montreal Forum, their home for 70 seasons and 22 Stanley Cup victories, in 1996.
1999: New York Yankees Surpass Canadiens in Championships
The New York Yankees won their 25th World Series title in 1999, surpassing the Montreal Canadiens for the most championships among the four major North American sports leagues.
2000: Wayne Gretzky's Number Retired League-Wide
The NHL retired Wayne Gretzky's No. 99 for all its teams at the 2000 NHL All-Star Game.
2001: Molson Brewery Sells Controlling Interest in Canadiens
Molson Brewery sold its controlling interest in the Montreal Canadiens and the Molson Centre to American businessman George N. Gillett Jr. in 2001.
2002: Canadiens influence on Canadian Culture
A passage about the Montreal Canadiens from a short story was featured on the 2002 issue of the Canadian five-dollar bill.
2002: Gilles Tremblay Honored with Foster Hewitt Award
Gilles Tremblay, a broadcaster for the Montreal Canadiens, was recognized with the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award by the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002.
2004: Youppi! Becomes Team Mascot
Youppi! became the Montreal Canadiens mascot in 2004, making him the first mascot in professional sports to switch leagues after previously being the mascot for the Montreal Expos baseball team.
December 12, 2008: Montreal Canadiens Season Records Accessed
Information on Montreal Canadiens' season records was accessed on December 12, 2008, from their official website.
December 29, 2008: Canadiens Reach 3,000 Wins
The Montreal Canadiens became the first NHL team to reach 3,000 victories with their win over the Florida Panthers on December 29, 2008.
May 5, 2009: Montreal Canadiens Website Archive Accessed
Information was sourced from an archived version of the Montreal Canadiens' official website, last accessed on May 5, 2009.
June 27, 2009: Montreal Canadiens Historical Data Retrieved
Historical data pertaining to the Montreal Canadiens was retrieved on June 27, 2009, from their official website.
2009: Molson Family Regains Control of Canadiens
A consortium led by the Molson family purchased the Montreal Canadiens from George N. Gillett Jr. in 2009, marking the return of the team to Canadian ownership.
2009: Centennial Jersey Celebration
The Montreal Canadiens wore their first three jersey designs during the 2009-2010 season in celebration of their centennial.
2009: Canadiens Celebrate 100th Anniversary
The Montreal Canadiens celebrated their 100th anniversary with various events in 2009, including hosting the NHL All-Star Game and the NHL Entry Draft.
June 17, 2010: Hockey-Reference.com Data Accessed
Data related to the Montreal Canadiens was accessed on June 17, 2010, from the website Hockey-Reference.com.
2010: TSN Holds Regional Rights
From 2010 to 2014, TSN held the English-language regional rights to Canadiens games, with Dave Randorf providing play-by-play commentary.
2010: Canadiens Reach Playoffs Second Round
The Montreal Canadiens advanced past the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2010.
2011: English-language Radio Rights Acquired
Bell Media acquired the rights to the Montreal Canadiens regional television in French and English, and the English-language radio rights, starting in the 2017-2018 NHL season.
2011: TVA Sports Launch
TVA Sports, a French-language sports channel in Canada, launched in 2011. Before this, Réseau des sports (RDS) was the only French-language channel.
2011: Last Canadian Team in Stanley Cup Finals
The Vancouver Canucks were the last Canadian team to reach the Stanley Cup Finals before the Montreal Canadiens in 2021.
April 13, 2013: Montreal Canadiens Goaltending Records Accessed
Information related to individual goaltending records for the Montreal Canadiens was sourced from an archived version of their official website, last accessed on April 13, 2013.
September 22, 2013: Montreal Canadiens Website Data Utilized
Information, particularly regarding individual skater records, was sourced from an archived version of the Montreal Canadiens' official website, last accessed on September 22, 2013.
2014: TVA Sports and RDS Acquire Broadcasting Rights
In 2014, TVA Sports became the national French rightsholder for Canadiens games through a sub-licensing agreement with Sportsnet. RDS secured a 12-year deal to maintain regional rights for games not shown on TVA Sports. This resulted in RDS games being blacked out outside the Canadiens' home market.
2014: Pat Burns Posthumously Inducted into Hall of Fame
Pat Burns, a former coach with the Montreal Canadiens, was posthumously inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2014 in the builder's category.
2014: French-language Regional Television Rights
Réseau des sports (RDS) acquired the French-language regional television rights to Montreal Canadiens games under a 12-year deal starting in the 2014-2015 NHL season.
2014: TSN's Regional Rights Deal Concludes
TSN's hold on the English-language regional broadcasting rights for Canadiens games came to an end in 2014.
2015: French Language NHL Shield Logo
The Montreal Canadiens are the only NHL team to have the French language version of the NHL logo on their jersey, which they began using in 2015.
2016: Sportsnet East's Regional Rights Expire
Sportsnet East's three-year deal for English-language regional rights to Canadiens games ended after the 2016-17 season.
June 2017: English Radio Rights Deal Extended
The Montreal Canadiens' English-language radio rights were acquired by CKGM in a seven-year deal that began in the 2011-2012 season, and was later extended for another five years in June 2017.
December 4, 2017: Archived Hockey-Reference.com Data Utilized
Information was sourced from an archived version of Hockey-Reference.com, last accessed on December 4, 2017.
2017: TSN2 Obtains English-Language Regional Rights
TSN2 acquired the English-language regional television rights for Canadiens games in the 2017-18 season, with John Bartlett as the play-by-play commentator.
2017: Motto added to Jerseys
The Montreal Canadiens' motto was added to the inside collar of the team's jerseys in 2017.
January 26, 2018: Hockey-Reference.com Data Retrieved
Data related to the Montreal Canadiens was retrieved from Hockey-Reference.com on January 26, 2018.
2018: Bryan Mudryk Replaces John Bartlett on TSN2
John Bartlett returned to Sportsnet after the 2018 season, and Bryan Mudryk took over as the play-by-play commentator for Canadiens games on TSN2.
2019: Guy Carbonneau Inducted into Hall of Fame
Guy Carbonneau became the most recent Montreal Canadiens player to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, receiving the honor in 2019.
June 2020: Youppi! in the Mascot Hall of Fame
Youppi!, the Montreal Canadiens mascot, was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame in June 2020.
2020: Reverse Retro Jersey
The Montreal Canadiens unveiled a blue version of their classic red jersey in 2020.
2020: Canadiens Join North Division Due to Pandemic
The NHL realigned its divisions for the 2020–21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, placing the Montreal Canadiens in the North Division, consisting solely of Canadian teams.
2021: Canadiens Reach Stanley Cup Finals
The Montreal Canadiens advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2021, becoming the first Canadian team to do so since the Vancouver Canucks in 2011.
2021: One of the worst seasons in Canadiens history
The Montreal Canadiens finished last in their division in the 2021-2022 season, setting records for most regulation losses and goals against in a single season.
2022: Bruins Break Canadiens' Points Record
The Boston Bruins surpassed the Montreal Canadiens' record for most points in an 80-game season, set in the 1976–77 season, during the 2022–23 season.
2022: Unofficial Mascot
The Montreal Canadiens introduced an unofficial mascot during the 2022 season for their Reverse Retro games.
2022: Team Rebuild
The Montreal Canadiens organization authorized a rebuild of the team roster after one of the worst seasons in franchise history in 2022.
2022: Second Reverse Retro Jersey
The Montreal Canadiens released a new version of the Reverse Retro jersey in 2022, this time using a light blue base with white and dark blue stripes.
November 22, 2023: Source Information
This information was retrieved from the Montreal Canadiens' official website on November 22, 2023.
April 17, 2024: Information Updated
The information provided in this context was last updated on April 17, 2024.