What Is the Montreal Canadiens Logo?
The Montreal Canadiens logo is a red letter C wrapped around a white letter H, edged in blue. The two letters stand for Club de Hockey Canadien, the club's formal name. They were first used together in the 1917–18 season, and the logo took its present form in 1952–53.
It belongs to the Montreal Canadiens, the ice hockey team from Montreal, Quebec, founded by J. Ambrose O'Brien on 4 December 1909. The club was a charter member of the National Hockey Association.
The CH monogram is available as the Montreal Canadiens logo SVG.
Montreal Canadiens Logo Facts
| Introduced | C and H together from 1917–18; present form from 1952–53 |
| Symbol | None; the letters C and H interlocked |
| Logo type | Lettermark: the initials C and H |
| Earlier mark | A C enclosing an A for Athlétique, 1913 to 1916 |
| Owner | Montreal Canadiens |
What the Montreal Canadiens Logo Means
The C is for Canadien and the H is for Hockey. Together they spell out the initials of Club de Hockey Canadien, the name the club took in 1917.
The H does not stand for Habitants. That reading is a popular misconception, though it lives on in the team's nickname, the Habs.
Montreal Canadiens Logo History
The club's first logo, in 1909–10, was a simple C for Canadiens. From 1913 to 1916 the C held an A inside it, and the A stood for Athlétique.
| Year | What changed |
|---|---|
| 1909–10 | A simple C for Canadiens |
| 1913 to 1916 | The C holds an A inside it |
| 1917–18 | The C and H appear together for the first time |
| 1952–53 | The logo settles into its present form |
For the 1917–18 season the club changed its name to Club de Hockey Canadien, which brought in the CH monogram. Early versions of it were used in 1917–19 and 1921–22.
The 1952–53 logo has the red C curving around the white H. The club has kept that drawing for its primary mark since.
The Habitants Myth
The idea that the H means Habitants has a traceable source. Tex Rickard, owner of Madison Square Garden in New York, is credited as the first person to call the team "the Habs", in 1924. He reportedly told a reporter that the H stood for Habitants.
The explanation was wrong, but the nickname stayed with the club. So the popular reading of the monogram is a mistake, yet it is the source of the club's nickname.
For more teams like the Canadiens, browse our sports logos.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the CH on the Canadiens logo stand for?
Club de Hockey Canadien, the club's name since 1917. The C is for Canadien and the H for Hockey.
Does the H in the Canadiens logo stand for Habitants?
No. That is a popular misconception, traced to Madison Square Garden owner Tex Rickard in 1924; the H stands for Hockey.
Why are the Canadiens called the Habs?
The nickname comes from Habitants. Tex Rickard is credited as the first to call the team "the Habs", in 1924, after wrongly explaining the H that way.
When did the Canadiens logo get its present form?
In the 1952–53 season. The C and H had first been used together in 1917–18.