Stamps’ Andrew Buckley announces retirement
CALGARY — Canadian quarterback Andrew Buckley announced Monday he’s retiring from the Canadian Football League to pursue other career opportunities.
Buckley, just 24 years old, retires after two seasons with the Stampeders. The former seventh-round draft pick was expected to serve as the primary backup quarterback to Bo Levi Mitchell.
“I need to thank the Calgary Stampeders organization for an amazing two years,” said Buckley. “It has been the thrill of a lifetime wearing the red and white and I consider myself immensely lucky to have been a Stampeder.
“I’ve been accepted into medical school at the University of Calgary and it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass on. Studying medicine has been my goal since I was young and this is the right time in my life to pursue it.”
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Andrew Buckley (right) celebrates with Stamps’ starter Bo Levi Mitchell (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
A Calgary native, Buckley spent two seasons with the Stampeders, serving primarily as the team’s short-yardage quarterback as well as the holder on field goals and extra points. He had 57 career carries for 157 yards and 11 touchdowns including eight touchdowns in 2016, a total that matched the CFL single-season record for rushing majors by a Canadian quarterback.
Buckley also completed 33 of 44 passes as a Stamp for 326 yards and one touchdown.
A two-time winner of the Hec Crighton Trophy as the top player in Canadian university football, Buckley was a seventh-round selection of the Stamps out of the University of Calgary in 2015.
“We’re sorry to lose Andrew but we certainly wish him the best in his studies and his future career,” said Stampeders president and general manager John Hufnagel. “We enjoyed Andrew’s time with the Red and White and thank him for everything he did for the organization.”
The Stamps are likely to bring in at least another quarterback for training camp, but in the meantime, Ricky Stanzi appears to be the favourite to back up Mitchell this season.
