A local sports writer and commentator is reflecting on the legacy of George Faulkner, who is widely considered to be one of the greatest hockey players to ever come out of this province.
Faulkner, a native of Bishop’s Falls, passed away over the weekend at the age of 91.
Though he never made it to the NHL like his younger brother Alex, Faulkner played for the Shawinigan-Falls Cataracts in the 1950s, a team owned by the Montreal Canadiens.
Donnie Power says the reason Faulkner never got the call-up to the Habs is bad timing.
He says between 1955 and 1960, Montreal won five straight Stanley Cups. As a forward, Power notes that he was trying to break in against the likes of Jean Beliveau, Henri Richard, Dickie Moore, Bert Olmstead, and Bernie “Boom Boom” Geoffrion. He says that’s “quite a challenge to do for a young kid out of Bishop’s Falls.”
Power says he didn’t know Faulkner well, but did have the chance to play a few beer league games with him.
Power played with Faulkner when he was in his 70s, and “he never lost his skating stride,” noting that he always knew where the puck had to be and was very smooth. In the dressing room afterwards, Power recalls that he would “haul out the guitar and sing you a bunch of songs.”
Harbour Grace Connection
Doug Moores of Harbour Grace is among those remembering local hockey legend Faulkner.
Moores was just 10 years old when George and his brother Alex came to Harbour Grace to help build the Cee Bees organization, and they’ve been close friends ever since.
Photo via Hockey NL
Moores says he remembers well the emphasis George had as recreation director in Harbour Grace in ensuring that local players got a chance on the ice.
He notes George was known for “making sure that the local players had a chance to play – the Penneys of Carbonear, Ern Cole, fellows like Mac Martin, Joe Hunt, Frank Fleming, Jim Coady…these men all got a chance to play with the CeeBees, and most of them won Herders because George was really interested in that.”
