Every year, you’ll find some of Canada’s most iconic sports teams battling for the Stanley Cup or the Grey Cup. Fans cheer from packed areas, crowd around televisions, and turn up the radio to tune into games and show support for their favourite teams. Many of their names are synonymous with Canadian sports history, but what is the origin of these famous names? Keep reading to find out!
Vancouver Canucks
We begin our journey on the West Coast with the Vancouver Canucks. The word “Canuck” goes back as far as the early 19th century—at least! It was (and still is) a slang term for a Canadian. But while it used to be an unpleasant nickname for French-Canadians in particular, it now has more affectionate connotations.
Johnny Canuck had a lot to do with turning “Canuck” around. He’s the Canadian equivalent of Uncle Sam in the US or John Bull in Great Britain, and a proud personification of our country. Cartoonists first put the iconic figure to paper shortly after Confederation, back when the threat of US invasion was still looming. Johnny reappeared during WWII, encouraging Canadians to keep up the fight against the Nazis.
The Westernmost hockey team took inspiration from this patriotic history when they became the Vancouver Canucks. Good ol’ Johnny Canuck even appeared on the team’s early logo as a cartoon lumberjack on skates from 1952 to 1970. He was later replaced by an orca logo, paying homage to the West Coast marine animal and Indigenous culture.
But although the team and branding have continued to evolve with the times, they have never forgotten their roots. Johnny Canuck even found his way back onto some team jerseys—an inspiring reminder that we should all be proud to be Canucks.
Calgary Stampeders
Next province, next sport. The Calgary Stampeders predate even the CFL, having played (and won) their first game in 1945 against the Regina Roughriders. They are the only team to complete a regular season without a defeat—though that happened way back in 1948.
The team is, of course, named after the famous Calgary Stampede—the largest rodeo in the whole dang world. Held annually in Calgary, the event brings the city to a standstill. Even before the football team adopted the name, other sports teams also called themselves “Stampeders.” It’s that representative of Calgary culture! The Stampede, like the team, represents Alberta’s western roots of cowboys, rodeos, and prairie toughness.
The Calgary Stampeders also boast the CFL’s first-ever mascot: Ralph the Dog. He’s cheered on the team and warmed the hearts of fans for the last 35 years! Quick Six joined Ralph in 2003, and it’s his job to gallop down the sidelines after the Stampeders score a touchdown on home turf.
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders were founded in 1910, making them the oldest continuously operating professional football club in Western Canada. Their home stadium in Regina is one of the smallest centres in Canada. But don’t let its humble size fool you; that stadium gets positively packed with passionate supporters. The Roughriders fans are famed for their intense love for their home team.
Without their dedicated fans, it’s unlikely that the Roughriders would still be playing at all. Extraordinary community support, gathering under the banner of “THE RIDERS NEED HELP,” paid the bill when the team’s survival was dubious. The annual Friends of the Riders lottery was created in 1985 to help finance the team.
Passionate fans aside, what’s with the name?
There are two theories. The most popular one is that it comes from the North West Mounted Police, who were themselves called the Roughriders. This is because they broke their own wild horses, presumably, by riding rough. The other theory is that a Canadian contingent fighting in the Spanish-American War were nicknamed the Rough Riders and brought the name back with them when they returned home.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Although the Toronto Maple Leafs haven’t won the Stanley Cup since 1967, their fans remain just as dedicated and passionate as ever. The team’s fan base, known as “Leafs Nation,” sells out most of the home games and remains fiercely loyal despite the ups and downs.
Technically, the hockey team has been around since 1917 and took on the name “The Leafs” in 1927, when Conn Smythe bought the team. It’s believed that he chose the name to honour the Maple Leaf Regiment from WWI. But ever since Canada adopted the maple leaf flag in 1965, the maple leaf has taken on a life of its own, becoming one of the quintessential symbols of the country.
The Leafs have sported a blue-and-white maple leaf since 1928, though with a few updates throughout the decades. For the 2016/2017 season, they adopted a special emblem to celebrate 100 years of Leafs hockey.
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are the last Canadian team to bring Lord Stanley’s Cup home to Canada. This was in 1993, so the country is long overdue for a victory. Given the success of the Montreal Canadiens in the past (they’re the most historically successful team in the NHL), maybe they’ll be the ones to finally seal the deal. They’ve won 24 Stanley Cup championships and have appeared in the Stanley Cup finals 35 times since their founding in 1909.
Their official name is the Club de hockey Canadien, hence the “CH” on their jerseys. That’s also why they’re affectionately called the Habs.
Proudly French-Canadian, the Canadiens branding has remained consistent throughout the decades. They have used the “CH” logo since 1917 (when the NHL was established). The name “The Canadiens” represents the Quebecois identity and appeals to the country’s French-speaking hockey lovers.
Conclusion
Looking back at the histories of these iconic Canadian sports teams, it’s hard not to want to know even more about them. If you’re in the same boat, check out their official team apps for the latest team updates, scores, stats, and game-day info. And if you want to wager on them through a phone bill provider available in Canada and take your fandom to the next level, there are apps for that too!
