NHL: 2008 - 2009 season is upon us

[smokey the elder]

Can anyone tell me why, when the Montreal team is called the "Canadiens" why people call them "the Habs"? Whatintheheck is a "hab" anyway?

[RICHARD]

Can anyone tell me why, when the Montreal team is called the "Canadiens" why people call them "the Habs"? Whatintheheck is a "hab" anyway?

Easy!

They are the Habs, we are the Habs not!


IT comes from "Les Habitants" - a salute to the people of the area.

--------------------


S19,

I did a few games as goalie in a 'sandlot' roller hockey. Fiesty?

With all the gear on I was sweating so badly I wanted to beat myself up.

[sparks19]

Can anyone tell me why, when the Montreal team is called the "Canadiens" why people call them "the Habs"? Whatintheheck is a "hab" anyway?

Question: Why are the Montreal Canadiens called the Habs?

Answer: 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."

[smokey the elder]

Thanks! That makes sense.

[Grace]

Interesting article from the Washington Post about Mr. Avery, and his anticipated antics in the playoffs.

I do not wish harm to anyone, but if a member of the Capitals should accidentally bruise him, I would not be terribly upset

[Puckstop31]

Interesting article from the Washington Post about Mr. Avery, and his anticipated antics in the playoffs.

I do not wish harm to anyone, but if a member of the Capitals should accidentally bruise him, I would not be terribly upset

He had an encounter with Jose Theodore late in the game... Frankly, I am a little disappointed in the Caps reaction.

Being the brute I am supposed to be... I DO wish harm on Avery. Severe harm. Career ending harm. He's got enough money to take care of his kid. He is bad for the game, except in NYC. He is a blight on the GAME. He does not respect it nor does he play it with honor. And that is a shame, because he does have skill. He could be a good player with out all the crap he does. Asshats like him give the NHL the bad rap it sometimes has...

[Grace]

While on the subject of the Montreal Canadiens, have any of you heard about this -

Celine Dion part of potential bid for Habs: report
Last Updated: Thursday, April 16, 2009 | 3:36 AM ET
The Canadian Press

A shared passion for the Montreal Canadiens is making for strange bedfellows in Quebec business circles.

The Globe and Mail is reporting that pop star Celine Dion, Seagram heir Stephen Bronfman and Quebecor boss Pierre Karl Peladeau are considering a joint bid for the storied NHL team and Montreal's Bell Centre arena.

The report cites unnamed sources in the financial industry.

Team owner George Gillett is reportedly into the second round of bids for the team and arena he purchased nine years ago for $185 million US.

One investment banker familiar with the process told the Globe that potential buyers who made `initial expressions of interest' now have full access to financial data on the Canadiens and the Bell Centre.

However, the banker and other sources familiar with the possible sale of the team cautioned it will be difficult to strike a partnership that satisfies the strong personalities of the reported consortium.
© The Canadian Press, 2009

source

[sparks19]

I heard about the bidding but I didn't hear about the celine dion part.