As one of the star goalies in Canadian professional hockey history, Richard Brodeur earned the nickname King Richard guiding the Vancouver Canucks to the Stanley Cup finals in 1982.
But the on-ice monarch’s passion for painting wasn’t well know — which, he says, didn’t really fit the masculine locker room culture of several decades ago.
“They were macho years [in the 1970s and 80s],” he told CBC story producer Dominika Lirette. “It’s like you’re talking big time, so you [didn’t] talk about it.”
Now, the retired hockey player is opening up about his longtime hobby, as he showcases his work at the Kelowna Art Gallery.
Born in Longueuil, Que., Brodeur has been drawing on canvass since high school. In his exhibited series My Childhood Memories, the 68-year-old expresses the joy and warmth he experienced as a boy playing hockey at home.
“I was four years old, and my dad used to do a backyard rink, and that’s where we started playing,” he said.
Brodeur competed in National Hockey League and World Hockey Association games for 17 years, with teams including the Quebec Nordiques, the New York Islanders and the Hartford Whalers.
After his retirement at 37, he worked as a Quebec brewery sales agent and a Vancouver hotel manager, but he felt a strong urge to become a full-time artist.
“When I was fed up with it [the corporate world], I just said, ‘OK, that’s all I want to do. I want to paint now.’ I’ve been doing it for 20 years now,” he said.
While a hockey player, Brodeur was so secretive about his interest in art that he went anonymous while exhibiting his works at several art shows in Quebec. He says his former teammates didn’t know he was an artist until eight years ago.
“They’re really impressed. They’re really proud. Some of them bought a piece of mine.”
WATCH: Richard Brodeur speaks about “My Childhood Memories,” a series of his paintings:
Now, living in Kelowna, Brodeur’s history of concussion and struggles with depression is not well known — something he says he struggled with for more than 30 years.
He says creating art saved him.
“It is something that at one point, I couldn’t control, and if it wasn’t for my painting, I’d probably be dead by now,” he said. “It [painting] … carried me somewhere else in my life that was happy … and it brought me closer to my family.”
Creations of Brodeur and two other artists will be shown at the Storytellers exhibition at the Kelowna Art Gallery until Jan. 31.
Tap the link below to listen to Richard Brodeur’s conversation with Dominika Lirette:
Radio West8:20Retired professional hockey player ‘King Richard’ finds joy in creating arts
Former Canucks goaltender Richard Brodeur speaks to story producer Dominika Lirette about his exhibition at Kelowna Art Gallery 8:20
