Alex Faulkner Alex Alexander Faulkner ( born May 21 , 1936 , in Bishop ' s Falls , Dominion of Newfoundland ) is a retired professional ice hockey player and was the first National Hockey League player from Newfoundland and Labrador . When he was born , Newfoundland was an independent country so Faulkner did not become a Canadian until it joined Canada in 1949 . Playing career . Before entering the National Hockey League , Alex Faulkner was a star player in Newfoundland for the Conception Bay Cee Bees , a team that was , for the most part , formed by his brother George . Faulkner led the league for two seasons in both goals and points . 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 Toronto assistant general manager King Clancy . Faulkner was invited to practice 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 . Faulkner ' s chances of landing a regular spot in the Leafs ' lineup at centre were limited - - the team already had Dave Keon , Red Kelly , Bob Pulford and Billy Harris at that position . The Leafs did not protect Faulkner , and he was claimed by the Detroit Red Wings in the Intra - League Draft on June 4 , 1962 . That season , Faulkner found a place in the NHL on the Red Wings ' third line with Larry Jeffrey and Bruce MacGregor . In his rookie season , Faulkner scored 10 goals and 20 points in 70 games while playing on the checking line . It was in the playoffs in 1963 , however , that Faulkner stood out . André Pronovost replaced Jeffrey on the line and , in that combination , Faulkner scored 5 goals in 8 playoff games , including three ( two game winners ) against Chicago ' s Glenn Hall in the semi - finals . The underdog Red Wings eliminated the favoured Black Hawks to earn a berth in the Stanley Cup finals against Faulkner ' s former team , the Toronto Maple Leafs . Faulkner played a pivotal role in Detroit ' s only win in that series , picking up two goals in the third game , including the game winner . When Faulkner returned to Newfoundland in the off - season , the province declared " Alex Faulkner Day . " Schools were closed for a parade and ceremony hosted by Premier Joey Smallwood , who presented Faulkner with a pair of gold cuff links . Faulkner returned to Detroit for the 1963 – 64 season , but a broken hand and ankle - ligament damage limited his season to 30 games . Detroit asked Faulkner to start the 1964 – 65 season in the minor leagues , but he opted instead to return to Conception Bay for the next two seasons . When the NHL announced expansion starting with the 1967 season , Faulkner returned to minor professional hockey in the United States with the Red Wings farm teams , the Memphis Wings , and then for three more seasons with the San Diego Gulls . At the beginning of his fourth season with the Gulls , Faulkner decided to return to Newfoundland , where he finished his career with the St . John ' s Capitals , retiring after the 1971 – 72 season . Faulkner returned home to work in life insurance , and later ran a senior citizens ' home in Bishop ' s Falls . He continued playing amateur hockey well into his 60s and has been inducted into the Newfoundland Hall of Fame .