It’s no secret that ice hockey is the most popular sport in Canada. In addition to being the country’s favorite pastime, it is also the official national winter sport and a one-of-a-kind Canadian trademark. 

As the contemporary sport of hockey originated in Montreal, it comes as no surprise that various competitions are held in the country regularly, such as the Memorial Cup and Allan Cup. Moreover, seven Canadian teams take part in the NHL alongside 25 teams from the United States.

Predicting who will win the Stanley Cup each year is a favorite activity among hockey fans, and with sports betting now allowed in several US states and Canadian provinces, even placing a few bets is not out of the question. Besides wagers, passionate fans can also enjoy hockey-inspired video games such as NHL '94 and Blades of Steel, as well as hockey-themed slots like Break Away Deluxe, at some of the many online casinos available. This only highlights how significant hockey is as a sport.

With all that in mind, let’s go through the logos of the Canadian teams that currently compete in the NHL.

Montreal Canadiens

Founded in 1909, the Montreal Canadiens are the oldest team on this list. Colloquially known as the Habs, they have won the Stanley Cup 24 times, more than any other team in the NHL. When it comes to their logo, they have been pretty consistent since inception. 

In 1909, the logo was a big blue “C” letter on a white background. Then, it was redesigned in 1910 to be a green maple leaf with a gothic-style, white “C”. Since 1911, however, they have adhered to their red, blue, and white combination, while the 1917 redesign introduced the addition of the letter “H”, representing hockey. They experimented with the shape over the years until, in 1957, they developed the outline they use to this day.

Toronto Maple Leafs

 The Toronto Maple Leafs were founded in 1917 and have changed their name a few times, ultimately settling on the Maple Leafs.

Even before it was named, the team's logo featured a maple leaf. Until 1928, it was green with Toronto written underneath. Then, the blue and white color scheme, which is still used today, was adopted, with the name written on the leaf itself. The shape and font have changed several times throughout the club’s history. The current logo has been in use since 2016.

Vancouver Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks were formed in 1945 but officially joined the NHL in 1970 as an expansion team. The logo underwent several changes from its first design.

From 1952 to 1964, it depicted a skating hockey player in red, blue, and white. The player dubbed Johnny Canuck received a redesign in 1964, featuring a blue and white color scheme. Once the club joined the NHL, the logo changed once again – it was now a rectangular badge in green, blue, and white with a white hockey stick placed horizontally on it. From 1978 to 1997, the logo featured red, yellow, and black colors. A dark blue orca was adopted as the symbol for the club in 1997 and can still be seen on the logo even after a few redesigns.

Edmonton Oilers

Since their founding in 1971, the Edmonton Oilers' logo has undergone relatively few changes. While the colors used were slightly adjusted over time, the logo consists of the word “Oilers” in a blue circle and an orange drop of oil above it. Between 1996 and 2011, the drop was copper while a red circle framed the entire logo.

Calgary Flames

Besides the Oilers, the Calgary Flames are also from Alberta. Founded only one year later, the logo for this team initially featured a stylized letter “A” with an abstract flame, as it was first called the Atlanta Flames.

In 1980, the club was sold, and the name and logo changed. Since then, a flaming “C” has been representing the team, and it has gone through very few changes in the last 40+ years.

Ottawa Senators

Colloquially known as the Sens, the Ottawa Senators were founded in 1992. While there was also an original Ottawa Senators hockey team active from 1883 to 1954, the current team’s logo has always been some form of a Roman Centurion. 

Red, gold, and black until 1997, it underwent some changes before being redesigned again in 2007 to feature the Centurion from the front. The iconic logo from 1997 returned in 2020, albeit in a cleaner and more refined form.

Winnipeg Jets

Established as the Atlanta Thrashers in 1997, the team was relocated and rebranded as the Winnipeg Jets, named after the original team that played in the city. The emblem is inspired by the Royal Canadian Air Force's symbols and features a blue and silver color scheme as its primary colors. A maple leaf is visible behind a silhouette of a McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet aircraft, all of which are encompassed within a navy blue circle.

Each of the Canadian teams in the NHL has a fascinating history, which is often reflected in their logos as well.

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