Due to popularization of sports betting Canada has lots of new hockey fans, some of whom might not be aware of the glorious history of one of the teams located north of the border. Montreal Canadiens hold the distinction of being the oldest professional hockey team in the world, as they are continuously in operation since their founding in 1909. They also happen to be the team with the most Stanley Cup wins as they lifted the trophy 24 times between 1916 and 1993. This unmatched run deserves closer attention, and we will try to present the most notable moments in the proud history of Montreal’s franchise.
Humble Beginnings and First Championships
Few people know that Canadiens are actually older than the league they are playing in. When they first came together, they competed in the National Hockey Association and won their first Stanley Cup in this league. Montreal was a founding member of the NHL in 1917, but it took quite a few years to win the league in 1924. Two more Stanley Cup wins followed in 1930 and 1931, but considering the league was tiny at this time and had fewer than 10 teams, the team could have been expected to win more. During this period, Canadiens were led by Howie Morenz, who was one of the first big stars that NHL had. The team had a resurgence in the 1940’s, when they won two more championships under the guidance of their next legend, Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard. Richard was so beloved in Montreal that the fans rioted when he was suspended in the later part of his career.
Powerhouse in the Post-War Period
After World War II, Montreal Canadiens has a period of amazing success that stands out in league history to this day. The team was consistently a contender for the trophy, and started amassing them in the 1950’s. After winning a title in 1953 and losing in the finals in 1955, the team went on a run of five consecutive Stanley Cup wins starting in 1956. Rocket Richard was the star of the team during this era, flanked by younger players like Jean Beliveau and Bernie Geoffrion. Canadiens went through a brief rebuilding phase in the early 60s, but this paid off as the team became even more unstoppable in its next iteration. Their new era of stellar success would happen under the command of legendary coach Sam Polock, who took over in 1964 and remained on the job for the next 14 years.
Hockey Dynasty that Keeps Stringing Stanley Cup Wins
As NHL was approaching its big expansion in 1967, Montreal Canadiens were again among the very best teams in the league. In 1965, they started their second period of dominance that saw them lift the trophy five years in a row again, before adding four more championships in the mid-to-late 1970’s. They maintained their grip on the league despite increased number of teams, which was 18 in 1978. When all their triumphs from this historical period are added, the Canadiens won 17 titles in the 35 years between 1945 and 1980. That’s a success rate that will never be matched in the NHL and a source of eternal pride for Montreal fans to this day. Lead by Guy Lafleur, Serge Savard, Larry Robinson, Yvan Cournoyer, Bob Gainey, the Canasdiens were considered so much better than their rivals they were selected to face the Soviet Red Army team in 1975 in a game that many people believe to be the greatest hockey match ever played.
The Last Gasps of a Former Giant
While the Canadiens remained competitive in the 80’s, their unbeatable aura was shaken and the team was forced to adapt to a rapidly improving field of rivals. After several tough playoff losses, Montreal reached the top once more in 1986 with a younger team led by Claude Lemieux and goalkeeper Patrick Roy. This win was even sweeter since it was achieved against Calgary Flames in the first NHL finals featuring two teams from Canada since 1967. Montreal reached the finals again in 1989 against the same opponent, but couldn’t add to its championship case. They had to wait until 1993 to win their 24th and last Stanley Cup, beating the Los Angeles Kings to become the last Canadian team to win the NHL title. Soon after, glory days came to an end as Montreal missed the playoffs for the first time in 25 years in 1996 and things only got worse from there.
How Long Will We Wait for Cup #25?
Over the last 3 decades, Montreal Canadiens haven’t been able to replicate their earlier success. Like many Canadian teams, they struggled to keep up with richer and more dynamic teams from the US and while the team managed to avoid relocation its results were largely underwhelming. Recently, there have been signs of hope as the team reached the NHL finals in 2021 for the first time since 1993. The Canadiens still have a loyal fan base and remain on the mission to recapture their golden days, but it remains to be seen how much longer it will take to win another Cup.