By the Letters: The Historical Height of "H"—Habs, Hat Tricks, and the Hockey Hall of Fame
In hockey, some letters just reach a higher level; letter “H” is one of them. It’s stitched into hockey’s DNA, representing the dynastic “Habs”, the sudden excitement of a “Hat Trick”, and the ultimate honour of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Habs: Honouring the Montreal Canadiens
You can't talk hockey history without mentioning the Montreal Canadiens. That famous "H" inside the C-shaped crest is legendary. While plenty of fans believe it stands for their nickname, the “Habs” (Habitants), it actually stands for “Hockey”—specifically “Club de Hockey Canadien”. Names aside, the Montreal Canadiens are the gold standard for winning in NHL history. The Habs have won a record 24 Stanley Cups (23 since the founding of the NHL; 22 since 1927—when NHL teams became the only ones to play for the Stanley Cup).
Cool Fact: In 2008, the Habs became the first team in NHL history to reach 3,000 victories (5–2 win vs. Florida).
Hat Tricks: The Excitement of the 3-Goal Game
There is no excitement quite like the roar of the crowd after a “Hat Trick”. When a player scores their third goal of the game, the atmosphere shifts instantly, usually followed by a large number of hats being thrown onto the ice. A “Hat Trick” is the ultimate game performance, offensively; a moment when one player completely takes over a game. As of March 5, 2026, the list of NHL legends who have made the “Hat Trick” look fairly easy includes:
Wayne Gretzky: 50 Hat Tricks
Mario Lemieux: 40 Hat Tricks
Mike Bossy: 39 Hat Tricks
Alex Ovechkin: 33 Hat Tricks (active player)
Brett Hull: 33 Hat Tricks
Hockey Hall of Fame: Hockey’s Greatest
For hockey fans, visiting the Hockey Hall of Fame is the ultimate experience. Established in 1943 and inducting its first class in 1945, the Hockey Hall of Fame is a cathedral for the sport's greatest stories. It preserves the artifacts and legacies of those who pushed the game to its peak. Fans can explore the legends through the official Hockey Hall of Fame pages (e.g., former Habs stars under letter “H”): George Hainsworth and Doug Harvey.
Cool Fact: In June, an 18-person committee (e.g., players, coaches) meets to select new inductees (e.g., players, builders).
H: Hockey’s Historical Height
Whether it helps represent the franchise with the most Stanley Cups, a 3-goal game for one player, or hockey’s greatest “Hall”; letter “H” is the thread that connects pioneers of the past to the superstars lighting up the lamp today.