Origin of "Habs"

[Lydia Mancini]

Gregory C. Gugel <GG1...@auvm.american.edu> writes:
>Sorry to bother you with this question, but I didn't see a FAQ.
>We don't play much ice hockey in Namibia :-) However, I've
>always wondered why the Canadiens are called the "habs?" I know
>you've heard this question before, but would some kind soul send
>me an explaination via e-mail. This question has been bothering
>me for a while (like an itch that one can't scratch). Thank you,

This should be in the FAQ, probably removed out of sheer frustration.

I'll post this here because I know it will be asked again.

Their full name is Club de Hockey Canadien. Back in the earlier days of hockey,
Quebec was a hockey hotbed and many of the players from around Montreal ended
up playing for the Canadiens. 'Habtiants' means inhabitants/residents, hence
the nickname 'Habs'. It sure beats saying Montreal Canadiens over and over.

-- Lydia
--
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Lydia Mancini | "Oh drat these computers are so naughty and so
sha...@cs.mcgill.ca | complex. I could pinch them."
McGill University | -- Marvin The Martian from Loony Tunes

[dsu...@ac.dal.ca]

In article <94038.130...@auvm.american.edu>, Gregory C. Gugel <GG1...@auvm.american.edu> writes:
> Sorry to bother you with this question, but I didn't see a FAQ.
> We don't play much ice hockey in Namibia :-) However, I've
> always wondered why the Canadiens are called the "habs?" I know
> you've heard this question before, but would some kind soul send
> me an explaination via e-mail. This question has been bothering
> me for a while (like an itch that one can't scratch). Thank you,

> ---
>
> Gregory C. Gugel - "They call me 'UK', 'cause I'm going far!"
>
> -from the Zimbabwean film, "JIT"
>
>
> <gg1...@american.edu>
> __--__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__--_
>
> _--_____
> ( "------====##
> "Bullish on Namibia" \ Republic of| "Oshilumbu shaSarti"
> \ Namibia |
> \ |
> ) + _|
> Doctoral Candidate / Windhoek| Assistant Professor
> School of Int'l Service | | Department of Political Science
> The American University \ | The University of Namibia (UNAM)
> Washington, DC 20016-8071 \__^i___| Private Bag 13301
> United States of America Windhoek, Republic of Namibia
>
> --__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__-

[dsu...@ac.dal.ca]

In article <94038.130...@auvm.american.edu>, Gregory C. Gugel <GG1...@auvm.american.edu> writes:
> Sorry to bother you with this question, but I didn't see a FAQ.
> We don't play much ice hockey in Namibia :-) However, I've
> always wondered why the Canadiens are called the "habs?" I know

I apologize for my last faux pas as I was trying to respond. The term
"habs" comes from the French for "Les Habitants", which literally
translated means something like the "natives", but more like
"the home boys".

Jeff