MONTREAL - The Montreal Canadiens players and coaching staff will visit children at the Sainte-Justine Hospital and the Montreal Children's Hospital on Thursday, December 8.  A new addition to this year's visits, team mascot Youppi! will join his "teammates" to provide gifts and smiles to sick children at both hospitals.

This year will mark the 40th annual meeting between the players and the young patients at Sainte-Justine Hospital. Once again the team will be divided into two groups to offer as many children as possible precious moments with their hockey heroes.

Sainte-Justine's auditorium will welcome the players and their young fans for an afternoon they won't soon forget. Scheduled activities will include: player presentations, Christmas carols, a special Q & A period hosted by the children, gifts and a surprise guest appearance by none other than Youppi!. At the Montreal Children's Hospital, Canadiens' players and Youppi! will visit the young patients in their room and offer each a special gift.

The Canadiens will once again join forces with the clowns from the Airheads Super Circus who will amuse the children and hand out souvenirs and circus tickets. The Airheads Super Circus is celebrating this year its 10th anniversary at the Bell Centre from December 25 to 30. Gillett Entertainment Group is pleased to offer tickets to support charitable organizations working with the less fortunate and to give children the chance to experience magical moments during the Holidays.

Aside from the hospital visits, members of the Canadiens' organization, ambassadors and player's wives will join RDS, the for the annual media Food Drive, the morning of December 8. Those wishing to donate can make cash donations or bring non perishable food items to the Canadiens representatives at the corner of René-Lévesque and Papineau.

Holiday Season Calendar

In addition to the annual hospital visit, the players and members of the Canadiens' organization will take part in a variety of activities in the community during the holiday season.

Thursday, December 8:                        La Grande Guignolée des médias - Food Drive in collaboration with RDS
Thursday, December 8:                        Annual hospital visits, from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday, December 12:                        Special celebration with Club des petits déjeuners du Québec, Bell Centre, from 1:30 to 4 p.m.
Saturday, December 17:                      Sun Youth Christmas basket distribution by the players' wives