Why are the Montreal Canadiens called the Habs?

Bobby Orr Famous Goal on May 10th, 1970 

I often see posts about the Montreal Canadiens, but do you know why they are called the Habs? The nickname "Habs" is short for "les habitants," which was the informal name given to the original settlers of New France in the 17th century.

The Montreal Canadiens, established in 1909, were marketed as a French-Canadian hockey team. According to NHL.COM, Tex Rickard, owner of Madison Square Garden, was the first to refer to the team as "the Habs." Rickard claimed that the "H" on the Canadiens jersey stood for "Habitants," but in reality, it stands for Club de Hockey.

Despite the history, all we care about in Boston is the Bruins beating the Canadiens! Tonight is game 5 of round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs! #GoBruins