Alex Faulkner
| Alex Faulkner | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
May 21, 1936 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 | 1960–1972 | ||
Selm Alexander (Alex) Faulkner (born May 21, 1936 in Bishop's Falls, Newfoundland) is a retired professional ice hockey player and was the first National Hockey League player from Newfoundland and Labrador.
Alex had four hockey-playing brothers, Lindy, George, Seth and Jack, and two sisters (Marie and Elizabeth). His parents were Lester, who was born in Bishop's Falls and Olive, a native of Point Lemington. Lester's mother (Svea) was born in Burtrask, 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.
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 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.
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