May 1936 – April 2025
ST. JOHN’S, NL – Newfoundland and Labrador hockey legend, Alex Faulkner has died at age 88. A native of Bishop’s Falls in central Newfoundland, Faulkner is considered one of the greatest players in provincial hockey history and the first Newfoundlander to play in the NHL. 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. He also has a bronze medal from the 1966 World Hockey championships.
HISTORY
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 in both goals and points for two seasons.
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 practise 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.