Former Toronto Maple Leafs Center Tragically Passes Away
Photo credit: Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced the passing of former center Alex Faulkner, who was the first native of Newfoundland to suit up in the National Hockey League.
There is sad news out of the National Hockey League today, as the Toronto Maple Leafs have confirmed the passing of former center Alex Faulkner.
We mourn the passing of Alex Faulkner. Alex played one game with the Maple Leafs in 1961 and was the first player born in Newfoundland to appear in an NHL game. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.
Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador president Jared Butler released a statement of sympathy of sympathy, calling Faulkner's passing a sad day for the province.
I think for us, as a hockey family across this province, this is a big blow. I think as well, you're losing someone who broke a lot of ground as the first Newfoundlander to play in the NHL.
He's a once in a generation type of a fella. To accomplish something back in the day, it was incredibly hard to make the National Hockey League.
And he was an inspiration to many young people across our province.
He's a once in a generation type of a fella. To accomplish something back in the day, it was incredibly hard to make the National Hockey League.
And he was an inspiration to many young people across our province.
He was best known as the very 1st native of Newfoundland and Labrador to play in the NHL; he played a single game for the Maple Leafs before moving on to play for the Detroit Red Wings.
Ironically, he was Detroit's leading scorer in the 1963 Stanley Cup Playoffs that resulted in a loss to his former Maple Leafs teammates in the Cup Final.
Faulkner suited up in 101 career NHL games, scoring 32 points (15G, 17A).
He would also play several years for the San Diego Gulls of the WHL, along with stints with the AHL's Pittsburgh Hornets and the Memphis Wings of the CPHL.
Following his playing career, he was inducted into the Newfoundland Hockey Hall of Fame in 1994.
Sadly, he isn't the first member of the Faulkner family to pass this year; his brother George, who was also a professional hockey player, died at 91.
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