The Stalking, Striking Florida Panther
The Florida Panthers joined the NHL in 1993 in an expansion that brought hockey down to Miami, Florida. When creating the Florida franchise, president Bill Torrey wanted a name that could merge something native to Florida with the right kind of hockey momentum.
Subsequently, the Florida Panthers joined the league. The Florida Panther is an endangered cougar subspecies that lurks in the forests and swamps of Southern Florida.
When Torrey revealed the team’s name, he told a reporter that: “A panther, for your information, is the quickest striking of all cats. Hopefully, that’s how we will be on the ice.”
The Florida Panthers was the best name for the new Miami-based team.
Ready For Rivalries
The Canadiens were founded in 1909 by John Ambrose O’Brien as a charter member of the National Hockey Association, later the National Hockey League.
From the start, O’Brien wanted a name that would rival the city’s already established team, The Wanderers. O’Brien turned to Montreal’s french-speaking population to create this rivalry.
As a result, the Montreal Canadiens were founded. The team’s nickname, “The Habs,” is an abbreviation of “Les Habitants” which was the name for the early settlers of New France.
The Canadiens exceeded their rivals but gained a few others as they became the strong team they are today.