The 2011Montreal Alouettes season was the 45th season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 57th overall. The Alouettes finished in second place in the East division with a 10–8 record. The Alouettes attempted to three-peat as Grey Cup champions, after winning back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010, but lost to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the East Semi-Final game. The Alouettes opened their training camp at Bishop's University in Sherbrooke, Quebec on June 5.[1]
The 2011 CFL Draft took place on Sunday, May 8, 2011.[2] The Alouettes had seven selections in the draft, including the eighth overall pick, which they used to select placekicker and punterBrody McKnight. Montreal came into draft day needing a kicker, and traded a 2012 first round pick for Sean Whyte.[3] Because McKnight has one more year of eligibility, he will not be able to join the Alouettes until 2012. Other notables in the draft include Vaughn Martin, who was ranked as the sixth overall prospect, but his draft stock dropped immensely due to the fact that he had already been with the NFL's San Diego Chargers for two years. Should Martin choose to enter the CFL at any point in his career, the Alouettes would hold the rights to sign him.[4]
On July 15, 2011, quarterback Anthony Calvillo became the CFL's all-time passing touchdown leader with a first quarter touchdown, passing Damon Allen's previous mark of 394 with his 395th touchdown pass, against Allen's former team, the Toronto Argonauts. The pass was completed to receiver Éric Deslauriers, who recorded his first touchdown reception since 2007.