Les Canadiens

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Les Canadiens were a Canadian hockey team in the National Hockey Association in 1909-10. It was a Francophone team created to attract fans away from the Montreal Nationals of the Canadian Hockey Association.

The team was financed by the owner of the NHA franchise in Cobalt, Ontario. Jack Laviolette was team manager and player-coach, although the owner was Ambrose O'Brien. After the 1910 NHA season, Georges Kennedy of Club Athletique Canadien threatened legal action against the NHA over the use of the 'Canadiens' name. In settling with Kennedy, O'Brien granted Kennedy the NHA franchise and assets of the Haileybury Hockey Club and suspended the 'Les Canadiens' franchise. The players of the 'Les Canadiens' team (and none of the Haileybury players) signed up with Kennedy, and the club was managed by Laviolette.

The NHA franchise was sold and transferred to Toronto interests who started the Toronto Blueshirts club, starting play in the NHA in 1912.