CALGARY - Dave Dickenson was denied a trip to the Grey Cup but the Calgary Stampeders quarterback still had some reason to celebrate after being selected the CFL's outstanding player Friday night.

Dickenson defeated Montreal Alouettes running back Mike Pringle 27-15 in a vote by a panel of the Football Reporters of Canada in each of the eight CFL cities. The winners included B.C. Lions running back Sean Millington, who at 32 broke the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the first time in his 10-year career, as top Canadian; Montreal's Pierre Vercheval as the outstanding offensive lineman; Hamilton's Joe Montford as the best defensive player; and Winnipeg's Albert Johnson III as rookie of the year.

Each of the winners at the black-tie ceremony, held at the Jubilee Auditorium, received an exclusive ring and trophy. All the nominees received a DVD player.

Dickenson, a four-year veteran, completed 317 of 493 passes for 4,636 yards and a league-leading 36 touchdowns. He led the Stampeders to first place in the West Division with a 12-5-1 record and was named to the 2000 all-Canadian team.

The Stampeders were upset by the B.C. Lions in last week's West final and Dickenson was forced out of the game at half time with ligament damage in his knee.

The Lions play the Alouettes in Sunday's Grey Cup.

The top Canadian finalists were both from Vancouver, with Millington edging out Montreal cornerback Davis Sanchez by a 23-19 vote. Millington also won the award in 1997.

Millington rushed for 1,010 yards on 156 carries, scored seven touchdowns and was named to the all-star team.

Vercheval, a Quebec City native, beat out Andrew Greene of the Saskatchewan Roughriders 25-17. In his fourth season with the Als, 14th in the league, Vercheval also was named to the all-Canadian team for the fourth consecutive year and sixth time in his career.

Montford took the outstanding defensive player award for the second time in three years, defeating Edmonton's Terry Ray 32-10. He led the league with 20 quarterback sacks, forced eight fumbles, made 52 defensive tackles and was chosen an all-star for the third consecutive season.

Johnson, the Bombers' wider receiver and special teams player, defeated Saskatchewan's George White 34-7. He led the league with 3,241 combined yards, scored one touchdown on a kickoff return and returned a wide field goal 122 yards for a TD.

Johnson also received the John Agro Award as the league's top special teams player and was named to the all-Canadian team.

Mike Morreale of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats was presented the Tom Pate Award for his outstanding contributions to the community.

John Tory, CFL chairman and outgoing commissioner, presented the Commissioners' Award to Jeff Giles, outgoing president and chief operating officer.