Montreal, Jan. 26, 2011 – After 13 seasons, 224 games, 1,017 catches, always more spectacular than the other, 13,301 yards and 65 touchdowns, slotback Ben Cahoon has decided to hang up his cleats.
Cahoon, whose name has been repeated out loud many times by Alouettes’ fans at Olympic Stadium and Percival Molson Stadium, had a great career in Montreal. He retires as the all-time CFL leader in receptions with 1,017. He eclipsed Terry Vaughn’s record of 1,006 receptions in 2010, his final season.
Cahoon, who played every single of his 13 CFL seasons in Montreal, retires as a champion after helping the Als win the last two Grey Cup championships. He helped the Als win three Grey Cups throughout his career (2002, 2009 and 2010) while being named the game’s Most Valuable Canadian twice (2003 and 2009). He is the all-time leader in Grey Cup history with 47 receptions as well as 666 receiving yards.
“My time in Montreal has been magical beyond my wildest childhood dreams. It has been such an honour to put on the helmet and pads of the Montreal Alouettes for the last 13 years. My life and the lives of my family will forever be enriched because of our time in Canada,” said Cahoon.
“My family and I appreciate the love and support of the wonderful Montreal Alouettes’ fans – as well as the CFL fans across this great country. I wish to thank Mr. Bob Wetenhall for the competent and caring way in which he runs his organization. I also would like to thank my teammates,coaches as well as their families for their enduring friendship and for sacrificing so much in our quest for a championship. They have showed that an unselfish and unified team is the most important key to victory.”
“My football career is proof that persistence and determination pay off, that success comes not from winning a game but from doing your best and that consistency is more important than greatness. The lessons I’ve learned on the football field will undoubtedly serve me well in the future,” concluded Cahoon.
Jim Popp on Cahoon
“Today we celebrate the career of Ben Cahoon, a CFL icon. We thank Ben for his unprecedented standards that he set in the CFL and the contribution to the Montreal Alouettes , the Canadian Football League, and to football in general. He is a special father and husband, a special teammate, and a special football player. His name will forever ring out in the history books of the Canadian Football League and the Montreal fans will never forget Ben Caaaahoooon!”
“Ben was one of the toughest pound for pound football players the Alouettes organization has ever seen. Year in and year out, he had the uncanny ability to play injured and to perform under the biggest stages.”
“When we drafted Ben, he was one of the most technically sound football players that we had ever seen. He was coached the proper techniques of catching the football, running routes, and the understanding of the game. This is also a huge credit to Ben for paying attention and putting the teaching to work on the field.”
“When you draft players, you expect them to be contributors to your team at some point in their career. You don’t draft players expecting them to be one of the greatest at what they do. Having Ben Cahoon playing for the Montreal Alouettes has been as much fun for the organization, as it has been for the fans. The legendary Ben Cahoon is one of the solid pillars that were placed in what has become a solid organization. He will forever be a part of that foundation and that lore.”
“If you have a child that is playing football, and they happen to be a wide receiver, I recommend that you watch and study the way Ben Cahoon played the game. He properly places his hands in the right place (on top of the ball) on almost every catch, he adjust his body in mid-arm to get his hands in the proper positions, he accelerates out of breaks to create separation from defensive backs, as well as anyone who has played the game at his position.”
“I would say that if we made a highlight tape of the great catches that Ben Cahoon has made in his career, that he arguably may have the greatest highlight reel of any receiver that has ever played the game. The CFL is lucky to have had Ben for all these years, for as good as he has been to this league, he could have been just as good south of the border.”
“Ben Cahoon, not only qualified as a Non-Import by CFL rules, he is also the son of two Canadian parents, which makes him a Canadian. I point this out because there has been so much made of Ben’s success and saying he wasn’t really a Non-Import. He just happened to be born in the United States while his parents where working there.”
“The Alouettes will have a Ben Cahoon day during the 2011 season. “
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