CALGARY - Kick returner Larry Taylor of the Montreal Alouettes was named the CFL's top special-teams player Thursday night.

Taylor was honoured at the league's awards banquet. He was tops in the CFL with 788 punt-return yards and two TDs, and third in kickoff returns. He also returned a missed field goal for a TD.

Taylor had a penchant for putting the ball on the turf at times, but he gives his team that big-play ability every time he touches the ball, which more often than he not leads to good field position.

Jason Arakgi of the B.C. Lions was the other finalist for the award. The native of Oakville, Ont., is a tenacious downfield blocker, and finished second in the league with 35 special-teams stops.

The second-year player was hampered by a thigh injury late in the season but brought recognition to one of the most overlooked positions on a football team.

Voting for the award was conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada and CFL head coaches.