Padding his future
Star goalie looks to put emphasis on education
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
RANKIN INLET
Connor Faulkner of Rankin Inlet is ready to shift his sights from goal posts to post-secondary goals.
Rankin Inlet's Connor Faulkner returned home from his season with the AAA midget Norman Northstars in Manitoba in time to lead the Kivalliq Canucks past the Baffin Blizzard in the Challenge Cup junior 'C' championship in Rankin earlier this month. - photo courtesy of Connor Faulkner |
Faulkner, 17, played the past two seasons with the Norman Northstars of the Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League.
He said his performance really improved in his second year with the Northstars, once he got used to the pace of the league and his confidence improved between the pipes.
"I played about 31 of our 44 games, so I saw a lot more action as the starter this season," said Faulkner.
"The team is really comparable to what we have up here, in that it's made up of players from around the northern region of Manitoba.
"Down in areas like Winnipeg or Brandon, the players grew up in and have been running the same systems since initiation hockey.
"That makes it tough because our team just comes together and starts to bond in August or September, at the end of tryouts, and then we're off to the start of the season."
Faulkner said his time with the Northstars was a great experience that definitely upped his goaltending ability.
He said the team's off-ice program taught him a lot of life skills, as well.
"Hockey's probably not always going to be there, so you have to enjoy it while it is.
"You're taught to give 110 per cent to whatever you decide to do in life and always treat people with respect."
Faulkner said he's going to wait and see what teams contact him before making any plans for the upcoming season.
He said if that doesn't work out, he plans to enrol in a science program at the University of Manitoba this coming fall.
"I graduate from Grade 12 this coming June, so I have time to see how things unfold.
"I'm not too sure where hockey might take me, but I'd like to play somewhere in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.
"Both the Swan Valley Stampeders and the Dauphin Kings look like good organizations to play for, so I wouldn't mind hearing from either of them.
"I'm just taking it as it comes right now and focusing on going down to the Maritime-Hockey North Junior 'C' championship with the Kivalliq Canucks, and after that, I'll see which way things go."
Faulkner said he's starting to think his hockey career is slowly coming to an end.
He said he's going to switch his thoughts over to school very soon.
"I'm going to start putting an emphasis on my education.
"Coach Doug Korman was a great role model for me and he taught me a lot of life skills.
"He pushed me to do everything at my very finest and never give up.
"I'll continue to apply what I learned from coach Korman whatever direction life takes me in."
