Youppi! to celebrate 40th birthday at the Bell Centre on Jan. 12

MONTREAL - Longtime mascot Youppi! will be celebrating his milestone 40th birthday at the Bell Centre during the game against the Colorado Avalanche on Jan. 12.

Youppi! won't officially ring in the big 4-0 until Apr. 13, but the team wanted to help fête the lovable orange furball during the regular season, splitting the difference between the dates of his two major league sports debuts to settle on Jan. 12 as the big day.

The lone mascot to ever represent two major pro sports teams, Youppi! made his MLB debut with the Montreal Expos on Apr. 14, 1979, against the Chicago Cubs. He spent the next two-and-a-half decades working the crowd at the Big O, before Nos Amours played their final game in October 2004.

After a two-year hiatus from the professional ranks, Youppi! was adopted by the Canadiens on Sept. 16, 2005, and worked his first NHL game on Oct. 18 that same fall.

Cupcakes and other surprises will be on the menu and fans will have a chance to meet rival MLB and NHL mascots at the Bell Centre during
Youppi!'s birthday game
.