| The Canadiens made the transition into the NHL by | | | | - 2. Also to his credit, the Rocket was the first NHL |
| retaining the playing rights to four players after the | | | | player to score 500 goals. Richard's brilliant hockey |
| National Hockey Association disbanded. The Habs | | | | career officially came to a conclusion September 15, |
| began the 1917 - 18 season with Didier Pitre, Georges | | | | 1960. After captaining the Habs to 5 consecutive |
| Vezina, Joe Malone and Newsy Lalonde in the lineup. | | | | Stanley Cup championships, the "Rocket" announced |
| Three "Jersey Crests" have appeared on the Montreal | | | | his retirement at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal. |
| Canadiens uniform. The original uniform displayed the | | | | BILL DURNAN: Bill began his NHL career in a very |
| "Simple C" crest. The second was "CA" - stood for | | | | impressive manner. Durnan started the 1943 - 44 |
| Club Athletique. In 1917 - 18, the most familiar "CH" crest | | | | season with a 14 game unbeaten streak. December 4, |
| was adopted. CH represented "le club de Hockey | | | | 1943, the Canadiens whipped the Red Wings 8 - |
| Canadien". The Canadiens first uniform colors were | | | | 2...extending their record to 12 - 0 - 2. Bill would suffer 5 |
| white, blue and red. Joseph Cattarinich, Leo Dandurand | | | | defeats throughout the 50 game schedule. Bill Durnan |
| and Louis Letourneau purchased the Montreal | | | | was the only NHL goaltender listed in a team |
| Canadiens for $11,000. After the death of George | | | | directory-media guide as being "ambidextrous". |
| Kennedy, his widow sold the Habs to "The Three | | | | Durnan's obvious athletic skills were also enhanced by |
| Musketeers" November 3, 1921. Turning a hefty profit, | | | | his ability to catch the puck and shoot left or right |
| the trio sold the Canadians in 1935 for $165,000. | | | | handed. He would try to confuse the goal scorers by |
| CANADIENS FOUNDATION - HOWIE MORENZ: | | | | switching catching hands at the last second. A natural |
| September 30, 1923 - $1,000 was the signing bonus | | | | "rightie", Bill used to hold his stick depending on which |
| awarded to Morenz to join the Canadiens for the 1923 | | | | side the attacking players shot the puck. He never |
| - 24 season. Howie was the first NHL player to score | | | | used the blocker glove...preferring to use a catching |
| 50 points during the regular schedule. Morenz won the | | | | mitt for both hands. |
| leagues' scoring championship for the 1927 - 28 | | | | FACT OR FICTION? The Canadiens are the only NHL |
| season with 33 goals - 18 assists - 51 points. Howie | | | | team to have 2 goaltenders serve as team captain. |
| was also known as "The Stratford Streak". Because | | | | George Hainsworth was team captain for the Habs |
| of his outstanding skating ability and being born in | | | | during the 1932 - 33 season. The second time was |
| Stratford, Ontario...it was a natural nickname for the | | | | during 1947 - 48 due to Toe Blake's season ending |
| Hall-of-Fame legend. Throughout his career, he was | | | | injury. By mid-season, Bill Durnan had the "C" on his |
| also dubbed "The Mitchell Meteor" and "The Canadien | | | | uniform. The Montreal Canadiens were the first NHL |
| Comet". | | | | team to have 5 players named to the First All-Star |
| ROCKET RICHARD: Maurice Richard played left wing | | | | Team in the season. The Habs receiving the honor in |
| when he began his hockey career. Paul Haynes, | | | | 1944 - 45 were Vezina Trophy winner Bill Durnan and |
| coaching the senior QSHL Canadiens, decided to put | | | | defenseman Butch Bouchard. The Punch Line of left |
| Richard on the right side. Richard was the first NHL | | | | winger Toe Blake, centre Elmer Lach and right winger |
| player to score the magical number "50 in 50". | | | | Rocket Richard were also named. All 5 Habs made it |
| Previously, the Rocket had 49 in 48. In the season | | | | to the Hockey Hall-of-Fame. The only non-Hab was |
| finale of the 1944 - 45 season, Maurice scored #50 | | | | Detroit's defenseman Flash Hollett. |
| against Harvey Bennett. The Habs defeated Boston 4 | | | | |