Alouettes To Retire Ben Cahoon's Jersey

No player with the Montreal Alouettes will wear number 86. The team said Wednesday it will withdraw the famous number worn by former receiver Ben Cahoon, at a ceremony at halftime to be held Friday, July 29 at Memorial Stadium Percival Molson, while Saskatchewan Roughriders will be the visitors.

Cahoon has played 13 seasons as a half-inserted in the CFL, all with the Alouettes. At the time of his retirement in 2010, he sat on top of the book of CFL records for most career receptions with 1017. Cahoon wrote his name in the book of CFL records on a beautiful sunny afternoon at Percival Molson Stadium on October 11, 2010, face the Calgary Stampeders, when he caught his 1007th career pass to surpass Terry Vaughn.

His sure hands and exceptional ability to run precise paths have enabled it to form, with quarterback Anthony Calvillo, one of the best tandems in the league for many years. Known for its breathtaking caught, Cahoon has played 224 career games, performing caught in 1017, some more spectacular than others, enabling it to harvest 13,301 yards and registering 65 touchdowns. He recorded over 1,000 receiving yards in nine of the 13 seasons he played in the CFL.

The triple champion of the Grey Cup (2002, 2009 and 2010) has responded when the stakes were high, it was chosen the Most Outstanding Canadian Player of the matches of the Grey Cup in 2003 and 2009. He was also voted Canadian Player of the league in the 2002 season and 2003. He ranks first in the history of the Grey Cup with 46 catches and 658 yards.

Cahoon, whose name was shouted in chorus repeatedly by Alouettes fans at the Stade Memorial Percival Molson has demonstrated its versatility in his career, making the winning field goal for a distance of 22 yards in a win in overtime of 30-27 over the Toronto Argonauts on August 2, 2007.

In 2004, he was part of a group of four recipients who all reached the 1,000 receiving yards during the season. It turned out the lead with gains of 1183 yards. The following year, four recipients Alouettes repeated the feat, Cahoon was the only group to successful accomplishment for the second consecutive season.

Cahoon holds the team record with 32 games over 100 yards on career reception, in addition to having managed a series of 144 consecutive games with at least one catch, which is the highest total in the history of the team and the fourth longest streak in CFL history. In 2003, he completed the season with 112 receptions, a team record that placed him at a reception of the circuit record.

Member of the stars of CFL team three times and that of the East Division to ten occasions, Cahoon was born to Canadian parents in Utah and raised in Alberta and Montreal. He was selected in the first round (6th overall) by the Alouettes in the Canadian CFL Draft in 1998. The number becomes the 11th retired by the Alouettes. 

(Montreal Alouettes)