Montreal Canadiens

Lore & Background

The Canadiens were founded by J. Ambrose O'Brien on December 4, 1909, as a charter member of the National Hockey Association (NHA), the forerunner to the National Hockey League. The team's inaugural season was not a success, as they placed last in the league. After their first year, ownership was transferred to George Kennedy of Montreal. The team won its first Stanley Cup championship in the 1915–16 season. In 1917, with four other NHA teams, the Canadiens formed the NHL, and they won their first NHL Stanley Cup during the 1923–24 season, led by Howie Morenz. The team moved from the Mount Royal Arena to the Montreal Forum for the 1926–27 season. The club began the 1930s with back-to-back Stanley Cup wins in 1930 and 1931. Led by the 'Punch Line' of Maurice 'Rocket' Richard, Toe Blake and Elmer Lach in the 1940s, the Canadiens enjoyed success again atop the NHL. From 1953 to 1960, the franchise won six Stanley Cups, including a record five straight from 1956 to 1960. The Canadiens added ten more championships in 15 seasons from 1965 to 1979, with another dynastic run of four-straight Cups from 1976 to 1979. The Canadiens won Stanley Cups in 1986, led by rookie star goaltender Patrick Roy, and in 1993. In March 1996, the team moved from the Montreal Forum to the Molson Centre (now called Bell Centre). During the 2008–09 season, the Canadiens celebrated their 100th anniversary. The Canadiens became the first team in NHL history to reach 3,000 victories with their 5–2 victory over the Florida Panthers on December 29, 2008. For the 2020–21 season, the Canadiens advanced through the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs, beating the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the playoffs 4–3, overcoming a 3–1 Maple Leafs lead in the series. They reached their first Stanley Cup Final in 28 years, but lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning, 4–1. In 2021–22, the Canadiens finished last in the league for the first time since the 1939–40 season.

In Their Own Story

The ice at Maple Leaf Gardens crackled under the skates of legends as the final seconds ticked away in overtime. The crowd, a sea of blue and white, held its breath, knowing history hung in the balance against their eternal rivals from Montreal. A slapshot rang out, the puck slicing through the air before finding the net, silencing the Forum's ghosts and sealing another chapter in this timeless saga.

Reader's Guide

The Canadiens organization operates in both English and French. For many years, public address announcements and press releases have been given in both languages, and the team website and social media outlets are in both languages as well. At home games, the first stanza of O Canada is sung in French, and the chorus is sung in English. The classic 'C' and 'H' in the Canadiens crest and sweater design are iconic.

Did You Know?

• The Canadiens have won the Stanley Cup 24 times, more than any other franchise.
• The team's championship season in 1992–93 marked the last time a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup.
• In the 1976–77 season, the Canadiens set three still-standing team records: fewest losses (8) in an 80-game season, the longest home unbeaten streak (34), and best goal differential (+216).
• The Canadiens are the oldest continuously operating professional ice hockey team worldwide.