If you walk into the Bell Centre on a Saturday night in 2026, the noise is basically a physical wall. You’ve got twenty-one thousand people screaming, but they aren't all yelling the same thing. Some shout for the Canadiens. Others scream for the Habs. If you’re at a Montreal Victoire game across town, the vibe is just as intense but the branding is brand new.
Honestly, the Montreal hockey team name situation is kinda messy if you aren't from here. Most people think "Habs" is just a cute shorthand for Canadians. It’s not. Or they think the "H" in the famous logo stands for Habitants. It doesn't.
Getting the name right isn't just about semantics; it’s about not looking like a tourist when you’re talking puck in a city that treats hockey like a high-stakes religion.
The Official Identity: Club de hockey Canadien
Let's get the legal stuff out of the way. The NHL team’s formal, birth-certificate name is le Club de hockey Canadien.
Back in 1909, J. Ambrose O’Brien founded the team specifically to be the "French" team of Montreal. At the time, the city was split. You had the Montreal Wanderers, who were the team for the English speakers, and the Canadiens, who were for the Francophones.
The name wasn't just a label; it was a political statement. In the early 1900s, "Canadien" specifically referred to French speakers. If you spoke English, you were "British" or "English-Canadian." By naming the team Les Canadiens, they were claiming the very identity of the land.
The "Habs" Myth That Won't Die
You’ve probably seen the logo. It’s a giant red 'C' with a white 'H' nestled inside.
Ask ten people what that 'H' stands for. Nine of them will probably tell you it stands for "Habitants." Even some long-time fans believe this. But here’s the truth: The 'H' stands for Hockey.
That’s it. Just hockey.
The whole "Habitants" thing started because of a mistake. In 1924, Tex Rickard—the guy who owned Madison Square Garden—supposedly told a reporter that the 'H' stood for "Habitants" (the name for the original French settlers of New France). The reporter printed it, the fans loved it, and the nickname "the Habs" was born.
The team never officially changed their name to the Habitants. They just kinda rolled with it because, honestly, it’s a great nickname. But if you want to be technically correct, it’s Club de hockey Canadien.
The New Era: Montreal Victoire
While the men’s team has over a century of history, the Montreal hockey team name landscape shifted significantly in late 2024.
For the first season of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), the team was just "PWHL Montreal." No logo, no nickname, just vibes and burgundy jerseys. Then, in September 2024, they officially became the Montreal Victoire.
The league was very specific about this. They wanted a name that stayed French. No English translation. Even when they play in Toronto or New York, they are the Victoire.
Why "Victoire"?
- It’s a nod to the city’s ridiculous hockey history (24 Stanley Cups doesn't happen by accident).
- It references the Victoria Rink, where the first organized indoor hockey game happened in 1875.
- The logo features an "M" and a "V" intertwined with a fleur-de-lis.
It’s a bold choice. Some fans think it’s hard to chant, but go to a game at Place Bell in Laval and you’ll hear the "Vic-toire! Vic-toire!" chant loud and clear. It’s becoming part of the city’s DNA.
Other Nicknames You’ll Hear at the Bar
If you’re hanging out in a dive bar on Saint-Laurent, you’re going to hear a lot of different names for the NHL squad.
Le Bleu-Blanc-Rouge is the most common one in French media. It literally just means "The Blue-White-Red." It’s a reference to the iconic tricolour jerseys that haven't really changed much since the dawn of time.
Then there’s La Sainte-Flanelle. This translates to "The Holy Flannel." It sounds weird, but it perfectly captures how people feel about the jersey. It’s not just sports apparel; it’s a sacred garment.
You might also hear Les Glorieux. This one usually comes out when they’re actually winning, which, let’s be real, has been a bit of a rollercoaster lately during this "rebuild" era under Kent Hughes and Martin St. Louis.
Why the Name Matters in 2026
In 2026, the Montreal hockey team name is more than just a brand. It’s a cultural touchstone.
The Canadiens are currently navigating a massive roster shift. With guys like Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovský leading the charge, the "Habs" identity is being redefined for a younger generation that didn't see the 1993 Cup win.
Meanwhile, the Victoire are proving that Montreal is big enough for two major hockey identities. They finished first in the league in the 2024-25 regular season, and Marie-Philip Poulin (basically the GOAT of women's hockey) has made the Victoire name just as prestigious in some circles as the Canadiens.
What Most People Get Wrong: A Quick Reality Check
- The "H" is not for Habs. I’ll say it again for the people in the back. It’s for Hockey.
- The team isn't just "The Montreal Canadians." The spelling matters. It’s "Canadiens" with an 'e'. Using the English 'a' is a surefire way to get a cold shoulder at a Montreal brasserie.
- The Victoire isn't the "Lady Habs." They are their own entity with a separate history and a separate ownership group. Don't mix them up.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you’re planning to engage with Montreal hockey culture, keep these things in mind:
- Respect the Spelling: Always use Canadiens with an 'e'. It shows you understand the Francophone roots of the team.
- Learn the Logo History: If someone tries to tell you the 'H' stands for Habitants, you can politely (or smugly) correct them.
- Support the Victoire: If you can’t get tickets to the Bell Centre (they’re expensive and usually sold out), the Victoire games at Place Bell are an incredible atmosphere for a fraction of the price.
- Know the Anthem: In Montreal, the national anthem is sung in both English and French. The crowd usually takes over the French part. Even if you don't speak the language, learning those few lines will make you feel a lot more like a local.
The name of a team is just a word until you put twenty thousand people in a room and add a puck. Whether you're calling them the Habs, the Canadiens, or the Victoire, you're participating in a 150-year-old conversation that isn't slowing down anytime soon.
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Next Steps:
- Check the official NHL or PWHL schedules for upcoming home games at the Bell Centre or Place Bell.
- Review the current rosters to see how the "rebuild" is progressing for the Canadiens or how the Victoire are defending their regular-season dominance.