The iconic Montreal Canadiens mascot Youppi! has been named a nominee for Best NHL Mascot in USA TODAY Sports’ Readers’ Choice Awards, the organization announced Monday. Fans may cast votes until 11:59 a.m. ET on Monday, Sept. 14, with the top 10 winners to be revealed at noon ET on Wednesday, Sept. 23.
Fan vote highlights long-running character
Born as the spirited figurehead of Montreal’s sporting life, Youppi! carries a unique legacy that spans two major North American leagues. He became the first mascot to be inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame from a Canadian franchise in December 2019 and is also noted for his earlier transition from baseball to hockey after moving from the Montreal Expos to the Canadiens in 2005.
The nomination coincides with a busy summer for the mascot, who has appeared in promotional and festival settings across the city. He featured in a widely shared video tied to the Montreal Jazz Festival in June — performing as the character Klek from Angine de Poitrine — and was seen entertaining crowds at events on Parc Jean‑Drapeau through August.
Montreal figures in multiple categories
Beyond Youppi!’s individual nomination, Montreal made a sweep of NHL‑related categories in the USA TODAY shortlist. The city’s downtown arena and its concessions are both listed among nominees, and the municipality itself is in contention for Best NHL City.
| Category | Montreal Nominee |
|---|---|
| Best NHL Mascot | Youppi! |
| Best NHL Arena | Bell Centre |
| Best NHL Arena Food | Bell Centre food |
| Best NHL City | Montreal |
Fans who want to influence the outcome can vote online through the USA TODAY Sports voting page. The competition draws entries from across the league and hinges entirely on fan participation; winners are determined by the volume of ballots received during the voting window.
Why the nomination matters
For a franchise with a storied history, an honour for its mascot represents more than a novelty. Mascots are cultural touchstones for teams — they help project identity in the building and beyond, and they often serve as ambassadors when clubs seek broader civic or promotional reach. Youppi!’s background — crossing league lines and becoming a Hall of Fame inductee — gives the Montreal nomination extra resonance.
- Historic firsts: Youppi! was the first Canadian team representative elected to the Mascot Hall of Fame.
- Cross‑league legacy: The mascot transitioned from the Montreal Expos (MLB) to the Canadiens (NHL) in 2005.
- Active fan engagement: Recent festival appearances and viral content have kept Youppi! in the public eye ahead of the vote.
With the NHL regular season approaching, fan culture and game‑day experience topics often heat up in tandem with on‑ice stories. A strong finish in the Readers’ Choice poll would not only be a civic feather in Montreal’s cap but also a reminder of the non‑statistical ways teams build loyalty and visibility.
Voting details and the full list of nominees are available through USA TODAY Sports’ Readers’ Choice portal. Results for the top 10 will be published on Sept. 23.
