The hockey ‘goon’ is considered by some as an untalented
stain on the game. Yet, the physical conditioning and subsequent punishment
these players go through is unbelievable. Everyone loves a hockey fight, as is
evident by the standing ovation received each and every time, yet the actual
fighters are not truly appreciated.
Steve Durbano was a hockey ‘goon’. He played 220 games in
the National Hockey League, sitting 1,127 minutes in the penalty box during
that time for an average of 5.1 minutes per game. Perhaps, just as well known
for his antics off the ice as on, Durbano should at least be recognized for the
fact that he led four different leagues in the penalty minute department.
Steve played three years of junior hockey with the Toronto
Marlboros of the Ontario Hockey Association. He provided decent offense from
the blue line with 32 points in 53 games in his second year and 39 points in 49
games in his second. In those final two seasons with the Marlboros, Durbano led
the league in penalty minutes with 371 in 1969-70 and 324 in 1970-71.
The New York Rangers saw something they liked and drafted
Durbano in the first round of the 1971 NHL Amateur Draft, 13th overall. In
fact, Steve was taken seven positions ahead of Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman,
Larry Robinson.
His first year of professional hockey was spent with the
Omaha Knights of the Central Hockey League. Playing in 70 of the team’s 72
regular season games in 1971-72, Durbano sat out 402 minutes in penalties. He
also finished with 41 points, sixth on the team.
Steve made his NHL debut the following season with the St.
Louis Blues. However, it was in 1975-76 when he became a made the headlines. In
a season split between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Kansas City Scouts
(today’s New Jersey Devils), Durbano totaled 370 PIM to lead the league.
With 1977-78, came a new league for Durbano to lead in the
penalty minutes category. Skipping to the World Hockey Association after
playing just 19 games in the NHL the season before, Steve led the league with
284 PIM in just 45 games. He was the leader of the WHA’s version of the Broad
Street Bullies, the Birmingham Bulls. Birmingham had the top four penalty box
sitters in the WHA on the roster.
Durbano played one more season of pro hockey in 1978-79,
returning to the St. Louis Blues for 13 games and playing an additional 10
games with the Salt Lake Golden Eagles of the Central Hockey League. Steve
passed away in 2002 after a bout with liver cancer. Sure, he’ll be remembered
as a goon but the fact is: he made it. He played at a level of hockey so very
few can even come close to. He didn’t just fight and sit in the penalty box. He
played defense and even scored a few goals.
| Season | Team | Lge | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1968-69 | Toronto Marlboros | OHA | 45 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 158 |
| 1969-70 | Toronto Marlboros | OHA | 53 | 7 | 25 | 32 | 371 |
| 1970-71 | Toronto Marlboros | OHA | 49 | 7 | 32 | 39 | 324 |
| 1971-72 | Omaha Knights | CHL | 70 | 7 | 34 | 41 | 402 |
| 1972-73 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 49 | 3 | 18 | 21 | 231 |
| 1973-74 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 33 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 138 |
| 1973-74 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 36 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 146 |
| 1974-75 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 1975-76 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 32 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 161 |
| 1975-76 | Kansas City Scouts | NHL | 37 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 209 |
| 1976-77 | Colorado Rockies | NHL | 19 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 129 |
| 1976-77 | Rhode Island Reds | AHL | 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 55 |
| 1977-78 | Birmingham Bulls | WHA | 45 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 284 |
| 1978-79 | Salt Lake Golden Eagles | CHL | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 41 |
| 1978-79 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 13 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 103 |
| NHL Totals | 220 | 13 | 60 | 73 | 1127 | ||
| WHA Totals | 45 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 284 |
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