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Hockey Irena Stropnik Podcast TTT Season 4

Season 4 Episode 8: Irena Stropnik on Adventures in Hockey

Irena Stropnik on Adventures in Hockey

Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia.

Thank you for listening in.

Today, I am delighted that my dear friend, Irena Stropnik, has joined Tea Toast & Trivia to bridge the 972 kilometers, between Calgary and Vancouver. If you are taking a road trip it would take 11 hours and 46 minutes via the Trans-Canada Highway.  I promise it would be an unforgettable, breathtaking journey for you would be traveling through the majestic Canadian Rockies. 

Irena and I will be discussing Hockey, which is defined as a game played on an ice rink by two opposing teams of six skaters each who try to knock a flat round puck into the opponents’ goal with angled sticks. Hockey is one of the most popular sports in Canada.

This will be an exciting discussion so put the kettle on and add to the conversation.

Meet the Russian Babushkas Playing Ice Hockey

Thank you for joining Irena and me on Tea Toast & Trivia.

And a special thank you, Irena, for sharing your thoughts and experiences in playing hockey. As you noted, hockey is not an individual sport – it’s played as a team. Scoring goals in hockey is a team effort, regardless of who last touched the puck before it went in the net.  You continue to inspire me with your commitment to fostering a sense of belonging within a team environment.

Listeners, I invite you to meet up with Irena on LinkedIn.

Until next time, dear friends, keep safe, be well and be bold.

Irena Stropnik on Adventures in Hockey – Tea. Toast. & Trivia.

By Rebecca Budd

Blogger, Visual Storyteller, Podcaster, Traveler and Life-long Learner

15 replies on “Season 4 Episode 8: Irena Stropnik on Adventures in Hockey”

This was excellent! I so enjoyed learning about Irena’s journey into playing ice hockey. I can picture her out on the ice as she began…how wonderful to have followed her passion. I think starting on a journey is often the hardest part. She describes her beginning steps so well and it is inspiring. Age should not stop people from trying something new! 🙂

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My first thought, Rebecca is that I have made that journey on the Trans Canada Highway, and I have never forgotten the sights I saw along the way.

I enjoy hockey – although I follow a non-Canadian team (Penguins). I don’t play, or skate, but I admire the people who do. I took my daughter to her first hockey game when she was an adult, and she was hooked on the sport in about 30 seconds.

I give Irena enormous credit for learning this game as an adult. The story about 80-yr-old women playing hockey is amazing.

I love the discussion about the way the women support each other and how this fantastic sport has brought them together. I like the notion of getting joy out of the sport. Hockey is a sport where everyone on the ice has a chance to be a leader and a teammate, I think more than other sports. I enjoyed this podcast very much.

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Thank you for listening in, Dan and for your heartwarming and insightful comments. I cannot imagine playing ice hockey 5 days of week. Irena’s energy and enthusiasm is inspiring, especially in how she encourages us to look at the aging process from a different perspective. Being risk-adverse allows us to objectively examine the risk/reward question, while avoiding risk truly dampens the joy of living boldly, with expectation.

I have read that as we age, we become less open to trying new things. I am the first one to admit I like to be in my comfort zone. But when I look back, it was when I took a deep breath and made that leap into the unknown that gave me the greatest exhilaration. May we continue to take those leaps.

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WOW! ! This is a very exciting story and very encouraging to us who are not teenagers any longer! Irena’s sharing of her experiences and the encouragement she gives is very valuable. Even the experience at 50 years and receiving of a special pair of skates from her parents and having the will and courage to learn to use them is an example of courage to others. It is interesting that there have been improvements in the game and on the ice like the lighter stick. I appreciate her respect for others she knows who are older that have found the experience of skates and skating on ice to be a help in difficult circumstances. When Irena first started her venture she felt fear, but she had the courage to learn and better her game, a lesson for us! I really appreciate the Russian Babushkas, thank you for including this information.

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I knew that you would enjoy this conversation, Frances. You have been a wonderful example of embracing fresh challenges and taking roads less traveled. Your children have benefited from your willingness to leave your comfort zone and head out into the unknown. Irena’s thought on coming to a point in life that “the time is right” resonated with me. If not now, when? So let’s take a deep breath and dive!!! Thank you for listening in and for your support and encouragement over the years. Hugs!

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I agree wholeheartedly, Liz. Very well said – support and encouragement within a group brings up the best in us all. I think of the diverse groups that have changed the world – the Glasgow Boys and Impressionists, the Romantic Poets,the academies of science, business and health. So many came together to create new knowledge.

I especially appreciated Irena’s thoughts on groups getting together for pure enjoyment. Sports has many examples dating back to ancient days. By the way, we are celebrating the Olympic Gold medal for our Women’s Hockey team.

“Canada is on top of the women’s hockey world after a thrilling 3-2 win over the United States in the Olympic gold-medal match at the 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games on Thursday.”

https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.6353378

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Listening to Irena was so inspiring! Wonderful to hear her describe finding the courage to leave her comfort zone in middle age, getting more fit while having fun, enjoying the camaraderie among fellow hockey players, and more! Rebecca, this is a think piece as well as a rink piece. 🙂

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You have the best sayings, Dave – “think piece as well as a rink piece.” Thank you for listening in! Leaving our comfort zone is not for the faint of heart so hearing when someone actually takes the first step out into the unknown acts as a confidence booster for the rest of us. By the way, this was the first time Don added sound effects. He is having so much fun. I am now looking for a sound effect of turning that page of a book.

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