The Montreal Canadiens: 100 Years of Glory

by D'Arcy Jenish

National Bestseller

The definitive history of the Montreal Canadiens – to coincide with their Centenary in 2009.

Before there were slapshots, Foster Hewitt, or even an NHL, there were the Canadiens. Founded on December 4, 1909, the team won its first Stanley Cup in 1916. Since then, the Canadiens have won 23 more championships, making them the most successful hockey team in the world. The team has survived two wars, the Great Depression, NHL expansion, and countless other upheavals, thanks largely to the loyalty of fans and an extraordinary cast of players, coaches, owners, and managers.

The Montreal Canadiens captures the full glory of this saga. It weaves the personalities, triumphs, heartaches, and hysteria into a compelling narrative with a surprise on every page. It sheds new light on old questions – how the team colours were chosen, how the Canadiens came to be known as the Habitants – and goes behind the scenes of tumultuous recent events still awaiting thorough why Scotty Bowman was passed over as general manager after Sam Pollock resigned; why Pollock’s successor, Irving Grunman, failed; why Serge Savard was dumped as GM so hastily despite his record.

Colourful and controversial, The Montreal Canadiens is the history of a team that has been making news for 100 years – and continues to do so with the return of legendary player Bob Gainey as general manager, determined to bring the Stanley Cup back to Montreal.

Genres: Sports, Hockey, History, Nonfiction, Canada

336 pages, Hardcover

First published September 30, 2008

Reviews

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an avid reader of all things Montreal Canadiens, I found this book most interesting when it chronicled the early years --- the founding of the team and their history through the 1910's and 20's. After that, I didn't really find out anything I didn't already know, or read anything that I already knew about written in a unique fashion. A very good primer if this is the only book you're going to read about the Canadiens, but a bit of a let-down for the serious fan.

[Marshall Chapman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A couple of minor statistical and historical errors but nothing major. I believe this is the only in depth modern history of the Montreal Canadiens - by modern I refer to the 21st century. This is the greatest Habs book since Lions in Winter and carries torch from the mid 80s very well and effectively. I’ve read about the Canadiens’ glory years many a’time but it was really nice to sink my teeth into the post-93 teams. The darkness of the 90s in terms of the economy, the sovereignty movement, the weakness of the dollar and the quality of the team explodes into my generation of the 2000s. I’d be keen to read a volume two from the latter half of the centennial to the COVID era. Big fan!

[Alex K · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book on the history of the Montreal Canadiens that takes you from the beginning into their Centennial year. The reader gets a refreshing look at hockeys storied franchise. The first few chapters on the early years are fantastic! Well researched and accessible to any hockey fan. You don’t have to be a Habs fan to like this book.

[Bjorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Engrossing but schematic. A more detailed and more personal account would be welcome, but it's admittedly difficult to fit 100 years of history into 300 pages

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many interesting facts about my favorite hockey team.

[Dave Cottenie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Very thorough accounting of the history of the Montreal Canadiens. It ended up being more personable than expected, especially when a legend would be required to retire or was traded. Some of the chapters were very long and there were not always good stopping points. Also, the book suffered from the same thing the Canadiens do … there were so many Stanley Cup Championships that at times they were just glossed over. A good history for hockey fans, however.

[Yves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a life long fan, I loved the book.

[Dryan1066 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed it. Awesome for a Habs fan. Not Awesome writing but if you love the Habs great book!

[Teebz Hbic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review for The Montreal Canadiens: 100 Years of Glory can be found on Hockey Blog In Canada.

[Red Heaven · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Canadiens, with their rich history and tradition, deserve an outstanding biography. Unfortunately, we must make do with this. That's not to say this is a bad book by any means, just a "meh" yet adequate retelling of their history (mostly through the author's sifting of newspaper reports). It's also something of a slog to read through. It's understood that the team has been around for a century at the time of writing, and that's a lot of history to tell. But by the last chapter or two, detailing the 2000s, the prose becomes almost unbearable to scythe through. The narrative also badly lacks for interviews with living players - the author quotes a couple that he interviewed, but the book would be better with more insider insights, and some of the few and far between nuggets have been gleaned from old press reports.

I felt the pace of the book was not always consistent, with too much time spent on uninteresting years when the Canadiens were down on their luck. Also, for a team history to not have a single mention of the game against the Red Army is unfathomable.

I'll let others judge the factual accuracy of the book. I did however notice some sloppy editing - glaring typos and missing or misplaced information - the Canadiens lost the first game of a playoff season before apparently winning the next four and then playing another game? The Molson Centre is referred to as the Bell Centre a few pages before we get a mention of the renaming (without an explanation). Others have noted the poor selection of photos, which is presumably due to licensing fees. To not have a photo of the Forum seems particularly odd.

Because of the overreliance on the old newspaper sources the narrative is often over-dry and dense. I'm not sure retelling almost every win and loss streak from every season helps the flow of the book, especially as the length is around 350 pages. Lots of players names are mentioned - not just the superstars but the regular players. That's fine, but not when you are just recounting names and not telling anything of interest about them, even among the more recent players, playing in the rich oversaturated media era. Too many are reduced to mere sketches. Jose Theodore had movie star looks, we're told, and that's about it.

[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great history of the Montreal Canadiens one of the oldest teams in the NHL and winner of the most Stanley Cups in the league. The book is best from the eighteen-nineties to the nineteen-seventies. After that, besides Patrick Roy, the history of the Canadiens got a little bland. By the time the aughts rolled around the Canadiens wasn't the prolific team it once was when Jon Beliveau, Howie Morentz, Maurice "Rocket" Richard, and Guy Lefleur ruled the NHL. All in all, the book did a good job of encompassing one hundred years of Canadiens history.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I'm such a fan of the habs it was really good :D I really liked it!!! In the end though it was kind of depressing because it was only talking about the habs how bad they played after 1993..which is true..but I wish he would have written a memorable quote or something :D but otherwise I really liked it !!

[Louis · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent history of the sports most storied franchise.An in-depth look at whatm has made them great and how they have gained religious status in Quebec.Amust read for any hockey fan and especially Habs fans.

[Sara_G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing history of the team. I read a book years ago that was great and this one is far better, and it includes an updated part focusing on the recent history. It is depressing when talking about the team's current state and the lack of success in the last 15+ years.

[Jordan]

-A bit colorful at times
-seemless transition between facts and play-by-play narrative
-an honest read about one of the most celebrated teams in sports history

[Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was the best montreal canadiens book i have ever read and trust me i have read alot. this book was good because it had allot of detail.

[E.E. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Full of excellent research and useful information, but man was it a slog to read through.

[Matthew Barlow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Must read for all Habs fans.