Conquest's Gus Ornstein espected to sign with CFL's Calgary Stampeders

May 12, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Albany Firebirds News Release


Albany, N.Y. May 12, 2004 – Albany Conquest back-up quarterback Gus Ornstein is expected to sign with the Canadian Football League's Calgary Stampeders on Thursday.

Ornstein, who will be placed on other league exempt by the Conquest, started in four games this season, before QB D Bryant earned the starting job last week leading Albany to a 52-45 win over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers on May 8. Bryant will be the starting QB for the Conquest this weekend when Albany travels to face the Louisville Fire on Saturday.

Ornstein is slated to arrive in Calgary on Thursday for the team's training camp, which begins on May 22. The Stampeders will play a pre-season game on June 3 at home against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, before opening their regular season on the road against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on June 20. In four games with the Conquest this season, Ornstein is ranked eighth in af2 in passing yards per game (242.2). He completed 67-of-127 passing for 969 yards with 20 TD passes and seven interceptions (94.46 pass rating).

"This is great opportunity for Gus," said Albany Conquest Head Coach Rick Buffington. "You want players to have the opportunity to move up and I am excited for Gus and wish him the best," he added.

The Conquest will be assigned a back-up quarterback for this week's game at Louisville. "We have placed numerous calls and we will have a back-up quarterback candidate at practice tonight," he added

Ornstein joined the Conquest in 2003 and was back-up quarterback to Ryan Vena. Ornstein played for the CFL's BC Lions in 2002, appearing in two games. Ornstein shared time as the starting QB for the Scottish Claymores of NFL Europe in 2001, after being in NFL camps with the New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, St. Louis Rams, Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins.

"Getting the opportunity to start in four games for the Conquest this season has helped me to fine-tune my skills. The speed of the arena football game and quick reads I have had to make has helped me," said Ornstein. "CFL is a great league for me. They utilize the shotgun often, which I like and the field dimensions are larger so that gives me a chance to use my arm strength. Their starting job at QB is open and I hope to win it at training camp," he added.

The Albany Conquest plays the Louisville Fire at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 15 as they travel to Freedom Hall in Louisville, KY. On April 24, the Fire beat the Conquest 62-56 on a touchdown with three seconds remaining. The Conquest's next home game is against the Macon Knights on Saturday, May 22 at 7 p.m. at Pepsi Arena. Albany Conquest fans can purchase tickets, including a new "Pick 4 Ticket Package with Bon Jovi," at the Pepsi Arena box office, by visiting www.albanyconquest.com or by calling 518-487-2081 or 518-487-2085. In addition, individual game tickets can be purchased through TicketMaster by calling 518-476-1000. The Pick 4 Ticket Package offers fans the ability to select four of the Conquest's remaining five home games, including the July 23rd game featuring a special one-hour performance by Bon Jovi.



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