Player of the Game

By general consensus, the folks in Section W will choose one Alouette player as the PLAYER OF THE GAME based on his performance, impact and effort on that game day.

July 4, 2001 @ Toronto

#37 Alphonso Roundtree -- Cornerback Alfonso elevated his game with a performance that gave the Alouette defense confidence in their secondary corps. With Lester Smith and Baron Miles out with injury and David Sanchez going to the NFL, three of our starting Alouette Aerial Gladiators were missing for the season opener. Roundtree responded with knocked balls, big hits and a dramatic 4th quarter touchdown to reassure everyone that it will be business as usual in the Alouette defensive backfield this year.

July 12, 2001 in Montreal

#27 Mike Pringle -- Running Back WHAT CAN BE SAID!! Mike Pringle rushed for 169 yards and four touchdowns, including a game-breaking 47-yard run in the third quarter, as the Montreal Alouettes routed the Calgary Stampeders, 32-14. Pringle carried 24 times and provided more than a quarter of the 413 yards of total offense for Montreal (2-0), which scored four of the game's five touchdowns and never trailed.

July 20, 2001 - @ Winnnipeg

#75 Ed Philion -- Defensive Tackle Shrugging off the Bombers 'crosshairs', Ed led the attack on the Winnipeg Blue Bomber offensive line and along with Swift Burch, terrorized quarterback Khari Jones. Ed had a couple of key tackles, knocked balls and a tremendous sack on Jones when the Bombers were threatening with a third down gamble.

July 26, 2001 - vs. Edmonton

#27 Mike Pringle -- Running Back Mike Pringle bounced back with a vengeance. With his eye trained on the goaline Mike pounded through the Green and Gold defence for 147 yards and three touchdowns to lead the unbeaten Montreal Alouettes to a 34-6 thrashing of the Edmonton Eskimos. Last week at Winnipeg, Pringle was held under 100 yards for the first time this season. He took out his frustration on the Eskimos carrying only 19 times and scoring on runs of 32, 17 and two yards.

August 4, 2001 - @ B.C.

# 33 Bruno Heppell -- Full Back In a game that witnessed the Alouettes first loss of the 2001 season, both the offence and the defense were able to blow assignments, miscue plays and commit errors. However, stalwart fullback Bruno Heppell continued his steady play, blasting into oncoming defenders, scoring a touchdown, and averaging more yards per carrier that Number 27. Bravo Bruno!

August 10, 2001 - vs. Hamilton

#67 Josh Cochran -- Offensive Tackle It was a game that pitted the Alouette's offensive line against the stingiest CFL defense. All-Star O-Liner Okeke won't be there -- out with a wobbly knee. Who is going to take his place and square up against Hamilton's Mean Joe Montford? Off the bench comes Utah native Cochrane who does a splendid job of meshing with Vercheval and Chiu in keeping the TiCat defense out of the Alouette backfield. We'll go with some fellow Wer's and columnist Jack Todd (a Section W supporter) in nominating Josh as Player of the Game. Way to step in Josh!

August 16, 2001 - vs. Toronto

#86 Ben Cahoon -- Receiver A broken bone in his hand wasn't going to keep this former Brigham Young graduate from playing. "Gimme the needle Coach .. I'm going in ". Ben had the crowd CAAHOOOning all night long as he leaped and dove gathering 6 passes for 140 yards. He just kept finding openings in the Argo backfield. Not the fastest player on the field yet always dangerous, Ben took the pain of his catching hand in stride and showed why he is considered one of the Als best competitors. Honourable Mentions: #47 Stefan Reid - "Holy Hole Plugger" & #10 Terry Baker - "a clutch-toe with six field goals"

August 24, 2001 - @ Winnepeg

#84 Tyree Davis -- Wide Receiver We have waited for this moment when our Alouette deep threat would break loose. Connecting with quarterback Anthony Cavillo for 61 and 32 yard strikes, this native Arkansas graduate electrified fans with two big scores that seemed to inject much needed adrenaline into the sluggish Alouette offensive. Alas, this strategy seemed to disappear in the second half for some unknown reason. We figure that whoever was getting beat in the first half should have been toast in the second.

August 31, 2001 - vs. B.C.

#10 Terry Baker -- Kicker This was a game that pitted both teams and fans against the elements as a surprise third quarter rainstorm pounded the stands and the fields. The Alouette offense finds themselves stalled once again, yet who do they look to with wet soaking crossed fingers? Its Number 10 - the graduate from Mount Allison who steps onto the pond at Percival Molson Stadium and in a rain that blinded the Yardstick Moovers, Terry Baker steps up and launches perfect strikes at 47 and 33 yards. It's those crucial kicks that allow Montreal to keep its undefeated record at home alive. Rack'em Terry!

September 9, 2001 - @ Saskatchewan

#59 - Pierre Vercheval -- Safety Guard #53 - Ozooma Okeke -- Tackle The Alouettes put a dent in Rider Pride this day, as the Alouette offence got unglued and generated over 450 total yards. It also marked the return of battering ram running back Mike Pringle. Number 27 ran for over 140 yards but it was largely running on the left side of the line. Messrs. Verchaval and Okeke, both former Linemen of the Year played a yeomen's role as they both plowed over the Rider defensive line. The yards gained in the air and on the ground were possible because of the big game by these two big boys Bravo !

September 17, 2001 - vs. Toronto

#58 - R-Kal Truluck -- Defensive Tackle R-Kal "the Tool Truck" Truluck made his first appearance in an Alouette uniform this game and made his presence known. Right from the beginning, standing in the forefront of an Alouette bench that mixed players from both teams observing a moment of silence, ToolTruck jumped into every play, forcing QB Kemp to hurry his passes, sacking him once and making some key tackles. He brought a great sense of renewed excitement to the defense. This native of Brooklyn fought with the Argo O line like a Marine battling terrorists. Thanks Green Riders .. We can use him!

September 23, 2001 - vs. Winnipeg

#3 - Sylvain Girard -- Wide Receiver It is the most important football game of the year to date. It held in its wake first place in the Eastern Conference and home field advantage should these two teams finish tied at the end of the regular season. It should have been a game where the Alouettes sizzled. Instead they fizzled. Don't let the close score fool you. The Bombers kept an icy grip on our Als for most of the game. The bright spot was seeing Alouette receiver Sylvain Girard accept a big portion of the offensive work. Sylvain was asked to return punts and make a few dramatic catches when Cavillo could actually hit someone. Girard snared 4 passes for just over 100 yards making him the most potent Alouette in all-purpose yards. Big High Five! goes out to this former Concordia University grad.

September 30, 2001 - @ Hamilton

#23 - Mark Washington -- Defensive Back This game wasn't supposed to be this close, much less a loss. Our esteemed Alouettes were to be frothing at the mouth for revenge over last week's loss to the Blue Bombers. Instead their mouths got washed out with soap, as the Tiger Cats demanded they respect their Steeltown defense as it cut down Cavillo and neutralized Pringle. The big Als game player was without question Mark Washington. Mark delivered the hits, caused fumbles and blanketed Flutie and the rest of the TigerCat receivers. His leadership on defense was inspirational in keeping the game as close as it was. Mark this one up for Mark!

October 08, 2001 - vs Saskatchewan

#1 - Kelly Wiltshire -- Defensive Linebacker (The Truth as reported by Herb Z. of the Montreal Gazette) Pathetic. No other word describes the Alouettes' offensive performance yesterday afternoon. "It was terrible," wide-receiver Tyree Davis said following Montreal's 13-7 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders before 19,601 Molson Stadium spectators - the team's 27th consecutive regular-season or playoff game sellout. "That was the worst exhibition of football I've ever been a part of - ever. We're no longer the beasts of the east. The one Shining Star on the field that wore the Alouette uniform was Montrealer Kelly Wiltshire who thought that it would be a good idea to play each down with intensity and purpose. To play with the heart, desire and execution needed to win. Thank-you Kelly for showing up. We enjoyed your performance.