Ben Cahoon (born July 16, 1972, in Ogden, Utah) is a slotback with the Montreal Alouettes. He won the award for the Most Outstanding Canadian in the Canadian Football League two years in a row in 2002 and 2003. As of the end of the 2009 CFL season, Cahoon is sixth overall in career receiving yards with 12,586 yards and fourth overall in pass receptions with 950. He is also the all-time leading receiver in Grey Cup history with 632 yards.

[edit] Honours

• Grey Cup Most Outstanding Canadian: 2003, 2009
• CFL Most Outstanding Canadian: 2002, 2003
• East Division Most Outstanding Canadian: 2002, 2003, 2008, 2009
• Alouettes' Most Outstanding Player: 2006, 2007
• Alouettes' Most Outstanding Canadian: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
• CFL All-Star: 1999, 2004, 2008
• East Division All-Star: 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
• CFLPA All-Star: 2002
• CFLPA East Division All-Star: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005

As of Week 11 of the 2009 CFL season, Cahoon had caught at least one pass in 177 of his last 178 games and at least one pass in each of his last 119 games.^[1][2]

[edit] Early years

Cahoon spent part of his childhood in Southern Alberta and is therefore considered a non-import under the CFL's import/non-import ratio rule.^[3] Cahoon played his high school football at Mountain View High School in Orem, Utah, and his college football at nearby Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah where he caught 84 passes for yards in his senior year. He also averaged 84.6 yards during that season. He was recruited by Utah Sate, New Mexico, Yale and Idaho.

[edit] Professional career

He was drafted by the Montreal Alouettes in the first round (sixth overall) in the 1998 CFL Draft. He won the 90th Grey Cup and 97th Grey Cup with Montreal in 2002 and 2009 and was named Grey Cup Most Valuable Canadian in 2003 and 2009. His number on the Montreal Alouettes is 86.

On August 2, 2007, Ben Cahoon kicked a game winning 22-yard field goal in overtime in a 30-27 victory over the Toronto Argonauts. He replaced Damon Duval, who had been ejected from the game.^[4]

Ben Cahoon stands only 5'9, but is able to bench press 225 lbs 19 times. He is also considered to be one of the greatest slotbacks ever, and was nominated alongside of Anthony Calvillo for the CFL Greatest QB-WR Combo of All Time.

Often considered one of the greatest players to ever play the game, over the years, he has formed an unstoppable duo with teammate Anthony Calvillo. He was named an East Division All-Star in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. He has also been named a CFL All Star on numerous occasions. In 2008, Cahoon broke Peter Dalla Riva's record for most touchdowns ever by an Alouette receiver. He has had nine 1000 yard receiving seasons, including a current streak of eight straight.

On December 15, 2008, Ben Cahoon re-signed with the Alouettes, where the deal called for a one-year contract with an option. This enables Cahoon to play his 12th CFL season and all of them being with the Montreal Alouettes.

[edit] Personal life

Cahoon is also owner of Power Pad Insoles, LLC a company that sells performance enhancing insoles.

Cahoon is the son-in-law of current Utah Governor Gary R. Herbert. He is also the cousin of pitcher Jason Cahoon.

A devout Mormon, Cahoon dislikes playing football on Sunday, which he believes should be reserved for rest and prayer.^[5]

He and his wife Kim have four daughters, McKelle (12), twins Camri and Kylee (9) and Hallie (3).

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Montreal Alouettes bio