Steve Durbano was a professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1972 to 1979. He was born on December 12, 1951, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and grew up in the city’s Jane and Finch neighborhood.
He began his junior hockey career playing for the Toronto Marlboros in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) during the 1969-70 season. He was known for his physical play even at a young age and quickly gained a reputation as a tough defenseman. (He was actually a bit of a nut case that would fight anybody)
During his time with the Marlboros, Durbano helped lead the team to the Memorial Cup championship in 1970, where he played alongside future NHL stars like Steve Shutt, Dave Gardner, Brad Selwood, and Paulin Bordeleau.
Durbano was known for his aggressive style of play and was one of the toughest and craziest players in the league during his career. He was a defenseman who played for the St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Kansas City Scouts.
Durbano began his professional career in the Blues organization, playing for their minor league affiliate, the Kansas City Blues, before being called up to the NHL in the 1972-73 season. He quickly gained a reputation as an enforcer, and during his time in St. Louis, he became one of the most feared fighters in the league.
In 1977, Durbano was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he continued to play his physical style of hockey. He was known for getting into on-ice altercations with opposing players, and his aggressive behavior often landed him in trouble with the league.
Durbano’s NHL career came to an end in 1979 when he was sent down to the minors by the Penguins. He played a few more years of professional hockey in Europe before retiring from the game.
Off the ice, Durbano struggled with addiction and legal troubles throughout his life. He battled alcoholism and drug addiction, and he was arrested multiple times on charges ranging from drug possession to assault.
His substance abuse problems led to several arrests, including a 1992 incident in which he was caught trying to sell cocaine to an undercover police officer. Durbano was sentenced to three years in prison for the offense.
Durbano’s life was tragically cut short when he died of a drug overdose on November 17, 2002, at the age of 50. Despite his troubles off the ice, Durbano is remembered as a fierce competitor (nutcase) on the ice who left a lasting impact on the game of hockey.
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