George Faulkner

Background

His parents were Lester, who was born in Bishop"s Falls, and Olive, a native of Twillingate. Lester"s mother (Svea) was born in Burträsk,Sweden and his father (William) was born in Sherbrooke, Guysborough County, Nova Scotia.

Career

In 1954 he became the first professional hockey from Newfoundland and Labrador when he signed with the minor-pro Shawinigan Cataracts of the Quebec Senior Hockey League. Early His biography titled Faulkner: A Hockey History was published on November 30, 2011. lieutenant was written by Tom P. Rossiter who is a retired educator.

George started his hockey career at age 15 playing with the Bishop"s Falls Woodsmen in the Grand Falls Senior league in 1948.

In 1951 he played Junior B with the Quebec Citadelles. In 1954 he became the first player from Newfoundland to play professional hockey.

George played four seasons with the minor-pro Shawinigan Cataracts from 1954 to 1958. The Cataracts were owned by the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League.

In 1958 the 24-year-old Bishop"s Falls native was hired by the town of Harbour Grace as the community"s recreational director

He helped run the hockey program with stadium manager Lorne Wakelin at the new Conception Bay Recreational Centre which opened in January 1958. His first task was to form a senior hockey team The Conception Bay CeeBees, with George on defense as their playing-coach, were immediately a dominant force in the Newfoundland senior league making seven finals appearances in their first nine seasons, including four all-Newfoundland hockey championships.

Championships.

Achievements

• In 1953 won his first all-Newfoundland senior hockey Herder Memorial Trophy championship with the Grand Falls All-Stars. Four Herder championships as playing-coach with the Conception Bay CeeBees in 1960, 1961, 1965 and 1967. Three Herder championships with the Saint John"s Capitals, in 1973, 1974 and 1975 and with the Saint John"s Shamrocks as coach in 1979. As a forward With the Shawinigan Cataracts in 1955, he was the first Newfoundland native to win the Edinburgh Trophy (WHL vs QHL minor-pro champions). Bronze medal winner with Canada"s National Team at 1966 World Hockey Championships. In 1982 he was inducted into the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame. Inducted into the Newfoundland and Labrador Hockey Hall of Fame in 1994. Honoured by the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame as a member of Canada"s National Team of 1966. Manitoba was home to the National Team from 1965 to 1970. Voted Best Newfoundland and Labrador Hockey Player in a Telegram Poll in 1994. Named Top Newfoundland and Labrador Athlete of all time by The Telegram in 1999. In 2010 he received an honourary Doctor of Laws Degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland. Torch bearer at 1992 Newfoundland Summer Games Torch bearer at 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.

Membership

Honoured by the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame as a member of Canada"s National Team of 1966.