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Habs Nation: A People's History of the Montreal Canadiens
The history of the Montreal Canadiens is not just a story about hockey. It's also the story of how hockey's most legendary team has always skated hand-in-hand with its home province of Quebec. Brendan Kelly takes a fresh look at the ups and downs of the Habs since the heyday of the "Flying Frenchmen" in the '50s, '60s and '70s and shows how the history of the team mirrors the tumultuous changes in Quebec over the past decades. Kelly talks to former Canadiens greats like Serge Savard and Bob Gainey, journalists, politicians, filmmakers and even to Lord of the Rings star Viggo Mortensen, maybe the Canadiens' most famous fan— and they tell the tale of a team and its unique bond with its local fans. One surprising conclusion is that when the team's roster was at its most Qué bé cois, the team had its greatest success on the ice. Since Montreal's last Quebec superstar, Patrick Roy, was unceremoniously booted out of town, the franchise has failed to win a Stanley Cup and has rarely been amongst the NHL's elite squads.
200 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 22, 2025
The Montreal Canadiens have one of the most storied histories in professional sports, having won 24 Stanley Cups and are also a source of pride for not only the city, but for the entire province of Quebec. However, they have not won a championship since 1993 and the number of French-speaking players from Quebec, once a source of pride for the team and province, has been dwindling during that time. This book by Brendan Kelly not only explores this phenomenon but also connects it to the movement by some Quebecers to secede as an independent, French-only nation.
Kelly does a great job writing about both the political and the hockey parts of the book. He interviews very knowledgeable people on both topics, especially the hockey part where he talks to former Canadien greats who were both anglophones and francophones (English and French speaking). That gave this a very balanced approach to the book, even though it is quite clear that Kelly is making a direct correlation between the status of the separatist movement and the success of the hockey team.
Something else that Kelly writes about very well is the rivalry between the Canadiens and the Quebec Nordiques before the latter left for Colorado in 1995. That was also the year when the second independence referendum for Quebec failed to pass, dealing a blow to those who favored independence. This contrasted with the 1980 referendum, that passed, and while not resulting in independence, there were several concessions from the nationalist government. And, either by coincidence or not, 1980 marked the year of the end of the Canadiens dynasty in which they had won the last four Stanley Cups, losing to the Minnesota North Stars in the quarterfinals that spring.
While there is certainly no absolute connection between the two, Kelly makes this comparison very interesting, provides the reader with a great account of the rich tradition of francophone players for the Canadiens and also gives the reader an interesting look at the movement to make Quebec a separate nation.
I wish to thank Baraka Books for providing a copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
Kelly does a great job writing about both the political and the hockey parts of the book. He interviews very knowledgeable people on both topics, especially the hockey part where he talks to former Canadien greats who were both anglophones and francophones (English and French speaking). That gave this a very balanced approach to the book, even though it is quite clear that Kelly is making a direct correlation between the status of the separatist movement and the success of the hockey team.
Something else that Kelly writes about very well is the rivalry between the Canadiens and the Quebec Nordiques before the latter left for Colorado in 1995. That was also the year when the second independence referendum for Quebec failed to pass, dealing a blow to those who favored independence. This contrasted with the 1980 referendum, that passed, and while not resulting in independence, there were several concessions from the nationalist government. And, either by coincidence or not, 1980 marked the year of the end of the Canadiens dynasty in which they had won the last four Stanley Cups, losing to the Minnesota North Stars in the quarterfinals that spring.
While there is certainly no absolute connection between the two, Kelly makes this comparison very interesting, provides the reader with a great account of the rich tradition of francophone players for the Canadiens and also gives the reader an interesting look at the movement to make Quebec a separate nation.
I wish to thank Baraka Books for providing a copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
May 8, 2026
The Montreal Canadiens are more than just an NHL team; their rich history is deeply connected to Quebec's culture. Kelly's book examines how the community found its identity through this sports team.
The Montreal Canadiens were established in the early 20th century to serve the French-Canadian community. The team’s success was largely due to a wealth of Québécois players, with legends like Richard, Plante, Beliveau, Lafleur, and Roy becoming iconic figures. For the older generation, these players were heroes, representing more than just their Quebec roots.
French players had a major role in the success of the team, and as a result, the populace formed a connection to the team. Kelly suggests that the province was lifted by seeing its own rise to the top of the league. The players took pride in wearing the bleu-blanc-rouge.
The 1970s were a pivotal decade for hockey and profoundly impacted me, reflecting a tumultuous time of change in the province. Kelly illustrates how nationalism was a key topic, noting a correlation between the team’s performance and provincial dynamics. When the Habs excelled, it felt like Quebec was the vibrant heart of the country; in contrast, uncertainty in the province seemed to hinder the team’s success.
The book's main focus is the unique bond between the Montreal Canadiens and their fans. It serves as a history lesson on Quebec’s culture and the one thing that unifies the English and French populations. While younger fans may not fully relate to some of the political issues or the team's past successes, the hockey connection is undeniable. It remains distinct and the most unique fan-team bond in sports. This book is a must-read for every generation of Habs fans.
The Montreal Canadiens were established in the early 20th century to serve the French-Canadian community. The team’s success was largely due to a wealth of Québécois players, with legends like Richard, Plante, Beliveau, Lafleur, and Roy becoming iconic figures. For the older generation, these players were heroes, representing more than just their Quebec roots.
French players had a major role in the success of the team, and as a result, the populace formed a connection to the team. Kelly suggests that the province was lifted by seeing its own rise to the top of the league. The players took pride in wearing the bleu-blanc-rouge.
The 1970s were a pivotal decade for hockey and profoundly impacted me, reflecting a tumultuous time of change in the province. Kelly illustrates how nationalism was a key topic, noting a correlation between the team’s performance and provincial dynamics. When the Habs excelled, it felt like Quebec was the vibrant heart of the country; in contrast, uncertainty in the province seemed to hinder the team’s success.
The book's main focus is the unique bond between the Montreal Canadiens and their fans. It serves as a history lesson on Quebec’s culture and the one thing that unifies the English and French populations. While younger fans may not fully relate to some of the political issues or the team's past successes, the hockey connection is undeniable. It remains distinct and the most unique fan-team bond in sports. This book is a must-read for every generation of Habs fans.
April 4, 2026
Habs Nation was a perfect five-star read because it transformed the history of the Montreal Canadiens into the history of Quebec itself. What I loved most is how the book constantly shows the team as a mirror of larger social change: from its Francophone Catholic foundation in 1909, to Maurice Richard becoming a symbol of French-Canadian dignity and resistance, to the dynasty years paralleling Quebec’s growing confidence during the Quiet Revolution. The Richard Riot especially stood out because it turns hockey into political and cultural history in a way that feels incredibly real.
The parallels between the team’s rise and Quebec’s own identity arc were fascinating. The 1970s dynasty felt like the sporting version of Quebec’s modern awakening: Expo 67, the 1976 Olympics, language laws, the Parti Québécois victory, and the Canadiens all representing a society becoming more confident and self-assured. I also loved how the book tracked the darker turning points too — the 1980 referendum, the rivalry with the Quebec Nordiques, the 1993 Cup as the last great shared myth, and the Patrick Roy rupture after the 1995 referendum era. It made the team’s highs and lows feel inseparable from Quebec’s political and cultural emotions.
What pushed it to five stars for me was the personal layer. The Halák 2010 playoff memories and the connections to moments with my dad reminded me that the Canadiens are not only Quebec’s history — they are part of my history too. That emotional overlap between public memory and private memory made this book feel deeper than a sports history.
A must-read for any Habs fan, Quebec history lover, or teacher interested in how sport can become a symbol of identity, nationalism, and collective memory.
The parallels between the team’s rise and Quebec’s own identity arc were fascinating. The 1970s dynasty felt like the sporting version of Quebec’s modern awakening: Expo 67, the 1976 Olympics, language laws, the Parti Québécois victory, and the Canadiens all representing a society becoming more confident and self-assured. I also loved how the book tracked the darker turning points too — the 1980 referendum, the rivalry with the Quebec Nordiques, the 1993 Cup as the last great shared myth, and the Patrick Roy rupture after the 1995 referendum era. It made the team’s highs and lows feel inseparable from Quebec’s political and cultural emotions.
What pushed it to five stars for me was the personal layer. The Halák 2010 playoff memories and the connections to moments with my dad reminded me that the Canadiens are not only Quebec’s history — they are part of my history too. That emotional overlap between public memory and private memory made this book feel deeper than a sports history.
A must-read for any Habs fan, Quebec history lover, or teacher interested in how sport can become a symbol of identity, nationalism, and collective memory.
January 17, 2026
Habs fans will find this concise book a timely read as Kelly revisits the history of the storied hockey club and questions whether it is more successful when its lineup emphasizes the team's Quebec roots. Is a franchise that also represents the political aspirations of its province more motivated by Francophone (or at least French-speaking) players and executives? The jury is still out, especially with the team off to a better start this season in the midst of a "rebuild" with leaders whose last names are Suzuki and Caulfied—unlike the Quebecois names of old.
March 6, 2026
A really interesting topic: the Canadiens in Quebecois culture from 1980-present. I wasn’t thrilled with this book - very few subjects were interviewed in this work and at times the writing felt lazy. I actually think this time period - the mediocre years - are very interesting. This book didn’t address those years very well or pay them much homage.
May 28, 2026
Very interesting look into past and current Montreal Canadiens and their incredible fan base. It is as much a book on French culture in Quebec as it is a hockey book.
June 16, 2026
A fascinating, interesting read that allowed myself to gain a deeper insight into what I think is one of the all time best ol teams in hockey. 😊 Even though I'm a Sens supporter 🇨🇦
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews