Alex Faulkner

Last updated
Alex Faulkner
AlexF010c.png
Detroit Red Wings 1963
Born (1936-05-21) May 21, 1936 (age 88)
Bishop's Falls, Newfoundland
Height 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Weight 165 lb (75 kg; 11 st 11 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Left
Played for Toronto Maple Leafs
Detroit Red Wings
Playing career 19521976

Selm Alexander Faulkner (born May 21, 1936) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player and was the first National Hockey League (NHL) player from Newfoundland and Labrador. He played in the NHL from 1961 to 1964 with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1952 to 1976, was mainly spent in the Newfoundland Senior Hockey League.

Contents

Early life

Alex had four hockey-playing brothers, Lindy, George, Seth and Jack, and two sisters (Marie and Elizabeth). His parents were Lester, born in Bishop's Falls, and Olive who was a native of Point Leamington. Lester's mother (Svea) was born in Burträsk, Sweden and his father (William) was born in Sherbrooke, Guysborough County, Nova Scotia. Alex first learned to play hockey with his brothers on the Exploits River in Bishop's Falls. His brother George was the first Newfoundlander to play professional hockey.

Playing career

Before entering the National Hockey League, Alex Faulkner was a star player in Newfoundland for the Conception Bay All Stars or Cee Bees, a team that was, for the most part, formed by his brother George. Faulkner led the league for two seasons in both goals and points.

Faulkner's big break came when the team played an exhibition game in 1960 against a St. John's senior team coached by former Toronto Maple Leafs player Howie Meeker. Meeker recommended Faulkner to the Toronto assistant general manager King Clancy.

Faulkner was invited to practice with the Leafs and was offered a contract with the Leafs' American Hockey League farm team, the Rochester Americans. In his second season in Rochester, Faulkner registered 73 points in 65 games. He was called up to the Leafs for one NHL game that season.

Faulkner's chances of landing a regular spot in the Leafs' lineup at centre were limited—the team already had Dave Keon, Red Kelly, Bob Pulford and Billy Harris at that position. The Leafs did not protect Faulkner, and he was claimed by the Detroit Red Wings in the Intra-League Draft on June 4, 1962.

That season, Faulkner found a place in the NHL on the Red Wings' third line with Larry Jeffrey and Bruce MacGregor. In his rookie season, Faulkner scored 10 goals and 20 points in 70 games while playing on the checking line.

It was in the playoffs in 1963, however, that Faulkner stood out. André Pronovost replaced Jeffrey on the line and, in that combination, Faulkner scored 5 goals in 8 playoff games, including three (two game-winners) against Chicago's Glenn Hall in the semi-finals. The underdog Red Wings eliminated the favoured Black Hawks to earn a berth in the Stanley Cup finals against Faulkner's former team, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Faulkner played a pivotal role in Detroit's only win in that series, picking up two goals in the third game, including the game-winner.

When Faulkner returned to Newfoundland in the off-season, the province declared "Alex Faulkner Day." Schools were closed for a parade and ceremony hosted by Premier Joey Smallwood, who presented Faulkner with a pair of gold cuff links.

Faulkner returned to Detroit for the 1963–64 season, but a broken hand and ankle-ligament damage limited his season to 30 games. Detroit asked Faulkner to start the 1964–65 season in the minor leagues, but he opted instead to return to Conception Bay for the next two seasons.

When the NHL announced expansion starting with the 1967 season, Faulkner returned to minor professional hockey in the United States with the Red Wings farm teams, the Memphis Wings, and then for three more seasons with the San Diego Gulls.

At the beginning of his fourth season with the Gulls, Faulkner decided to return to Newfoundland, where he finished his career with the St. John's Capitals, retiring after the 1971–72 season.

Faulkner returned home to work in life insurance and later ran a senior citizens' home in Bishop's Falls. He continued playing amateur hockey well into his 60s and was inducted into the Newfoundland Hall of Fame.

Career achievements

Awards and achievements


Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1951–52Bishop's Falls JuniorsGFSHL8246051111222
1951–52Bishop's Falls JuniorsCA-HS99615051112234
1952–53Bishop's Falls WoodsmenGFSHL121311242
1952–53Bishop's Falls WoodsmenNLSHL3347020440
1952–53Grand Falls All-StarsNLSHL13140
1953–54Bishop's Falls WoodsmenGFSHL14131730521230
1953–54Grand Falls BeesNLSHL2000220332
1954–55Bishop's Falls WoodsmenGFSHL111811290555104
1954–55Grand Falls All-StarsNLSHL9101222044264
1955–56Bishop's Falls KinsmenGFSHL122017378
1955–56Grand Falls AndcosNLSHL56390346104
1956–57Bishop's Falls KinsmenGFSHL122017378
1956–57Grand Falls BeesNLSHL488164
1957–58Bishop's Falls KinsmenGFSHL123822609599180
1957–58Grand Falls BeesNLSHL121411254
1958–59Conception Bay Cee BeesNLSHL25103491523282313366
1959–60Conception Bay Cee BeesNLSHL19473683331141458618
1960–61Conception Bay Cee BeesNLSHL
1960–61 Rochester Americans AHL 41513186
1961–62 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 10000
1961–62 Rochester AmericansAHL651954732621120
1962–63 Detroit Red Wings NHL70101020685052
1963–64 Detroit Red WingsNHL305712940000
1963–64 Cincinnati Wings CHL 1148126
1963–64 Pittsburgh Hornets AHL81452
1964–65Conception Bay Cee BeesNFSHL19225779521123224512
1965–66Conception Bay Cee BeesNFSHL551621464131710
1966–67 Memphis Wings CHL7028608832725714
1967–68 San Diego Gulls WHL 712641673272242
1968–69 San Diego GullsWHL731751681672464
1969–70 San Diego GullsWHL601748651460664
1970–71 San Diego GullsWHL41120
1970–71St. John's CapitalsNFSHL36264773181192130
1970–71 Grand Falls Cataracts Al-Cup 53472
1971–72St. John's CapitalsNFSHL241842605242352
1971–72 Grand Falls CataractsAl-Cup40330
1973–74 Gander Flyers NFSHL958134
1975–76Grand Falls CataractsNFSHL861016471081814
NHL totals10115173215125052

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