GEORGE FAULKNER
Date of Birth: 1933
Place of Birth: Bishop’s Falls, Nfld.
Inducted: 1994 (Player Category)
Regarded as the finest hockey player the province has ever produced, George Faulkner graduated from his school team to play in the Grand Falls Senior Hockey League when he was 15 years old.
Despite having the skills and talent to play in the National Hockey League, he was curtailed by the Montreal Canadiens who declined to trade him. He enjoyed considerable personal success in Quebec junior hockey and with the Shawinigan Falls Cataracts in the Quebec Hockey League, playing with and against many players who performed in the National Hockey League.
George Faulkner won his first Herder Memorial championship in 1953 as the leading scorer and Most Valuable Player for the Grand Falls Andcos. In 1958, he assumed the role of playing-coach for the Conception Bay CeeBees, often playing a full 60-minute game on defence. During his 10 seasons with the CeeBees, the team won the Herder Memorial Trophy and the provincial senior hockey championship four times, making the league playoffs every year.
From the CeeBees, he moved to the Corner Brook Royals for three seasons and added two more Herder Championships. He continued his championship play as playing-coach with the St. John’s Capitals and with Mike’s Shamrocks. In all, George Faulkner was the main reason for nine Herder Memorial Trophy victories.
In 1966, George Faulkner experienced the highlight of his 30-year amateur and professional hockey career as a member of Canada’s national hockey team that won the bronze medal in the world championship. He was Canada’s top scorer with seven goals and three assists.
An all-star soccer player, a top-calibre softball player and an excellent musician in addition to his hockey ability, George Faulkner was inducted into the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame in 1982.