Career
He also played minor league baseball, was a linesman in the National Hockey League, and a referee in the American Hockey League. Ornest made his fortune in vending machines. In 1978 he founded the minor league baseball franchise, the Vancouver Canadians, which played in the Pacific Coast League.
He purchased a majority of the assets of Sick"s Stadium in Seattle for $60,000 to use in the new team"s ballpark, National Bailey Stadium.
Ornest was the owner of the Saint Louis Blues from 1983 to 1986. When he owned the Blues, Ornest changed their arena"s name from the Checkerdome back to the Saint Louis Arena.
He owned the Toronto Argonauts from 1988 to 1991.
