RED DEER, Alta. – Former Calgary Dinos star quarterback Andrew Buckley was inducted into the Alberta Hall of Fame Friday night at the annual event at Red Deer Polytechnic.

Buckley is a Calgary-born football legend. Starting as a record-setting high school quarterback to the University of Calgary Dinos champion, Buckley made a name for himself in Calgary's football scene. While playing for the Dinos, Buckley led the Scarlet & Gold to three Canada West Championships in 2011, 2012, and 2013. He was the recipient of numerous awards, including the Russ Jackson Award, Hec Crighton Award, Lieutenant Governor's Award, the University of Calgary Male Athlete of the Year, and the Calgary Booster Club's Male Athlete of the Year. The two-time first-team All-Canadian also won the 2015-16 Doug & Lois Mitchell Award (formerly the BLG) as the U SPORTS Male Athlete of the Year.

Buckley grabbed the attention of the Calgary Stampeders in 2015, being selected 62nd overall in the CFL draft. In 2016 he played in every Stamps game as a rookie, tying the CFL single-season touchdowns by a Canadian quarterback with eight. Buckley played in both the 2016 and 2017 Grey Cups, scoring a touchdown in the 104th Grey Cup – making him the first Canadian-born quarterback to score a touchdown in the Grey Cup since 1969. Buckley announced his retirement from professional football in 2018 to pursue a career as a doctor.

Buckley's overall passion for football and his hometown is evident by the fact that during his impressive sports career, he has always made time to give back to his community through volunteer efforts. He was the founder of the University of Calgary's Dino's Athletes in Medicine, and coached Dino's football team from 2018-2020 – helping the team to their fifth and latest Vanier Cup in 2019.

Buckley was one of 10 individuals celebrated Friday night at the annual ceremony, and he becomes the sixth with Dinos football connections enshrined at the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame, joining former coaches Peter Connellan and Dr. Dennis Kadatz, Rob McNab, and both the 1983 and 1985 Vanier Cup Championship teams.

-UC-