When he was carried off the ice in 2015, Phoenix Knights goalie Luke Eddie Stripp didn鈥檛 know he鈥檇 just suffered a career-ending injury.

He鈥檇 had his share of injuries over five year of goaltending, and usually managed to bounce back.

鈥淭hey told me it was going to be two weeks,鈥� Stripp recalled.

Stripp, a promising goalie from B.C. with a potential pro career ahead of him, never returned to the game.

The 2015-2016 season playing for the Gilbert, Arizona, Knights in the western division of the Western States Hockey League would be his last.

Five years later, Stripp still doesn鈥檛 walk too far, or run too long.

He鈥檇 always had an artistic side, but it wasn鈥檛 a priority, the way hockey was, he recalled.

鈥淚 drew a bit, but I wasn鈥檛 known as an arts guy.鈥�

That changed while he was in hospital.

鈥淭he only thing I could do was something stationary,鈥� Stripp told the 91原创 Advance Times.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 pretty much all I did, every day, was art.鈥�

Which is why Stripp was having the conversation in his just-opened art gallery in 91原创 City.

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Located at 20435 Fraser Hwy, 鈥溾�� features more than 200 original paintings, bold, brightly coloured original works of art that cover a wide range of subjects, everything from people and portraits, to flowers, music, nostalgia, symbolism, tropic and animal themes, vehicles and drinks.

鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of how I鈥檓 feeling in the moment,鈥� he said.

Stripp started out using a small room in his parents鈥� basement, selling his paintings online. He found success, and in December, opened the 91原创 art gallery.

He is planning to expand to the Caribbean, once the pandemic eases, and after that, New York, LA and Las Vegas.

Business has been 鈥減retty good,鈥� Stripp allowed.

These days, the 91原创 City resident calls the on-ice injury that ended his playing career 鈥渁 blessing.鈥�

READ ALSO: PHOTOS: Former Canucks goalie showcases original paintings in 91原创

Stripp isn鈥檛 the first former goalie to reinvent himself as an artist.

Former Canucks goaltender , who earned the nickname 鈥淜ing Richard鈥� in eight seasons in the NHL with the Vancouver Canucks, is a regular presence at art shows in the 91原创 area, showing his abstract paintings as well as nature scenes and images of Canadiana, often kids playing hockey.

Stripp actually had a chance to meet Brodeur a while ago, but art didn鈥檛 come up in the conversation.

鈥淲e spoke more about hockey,鈥� Stripp smiled.

dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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