Showing posts with label salt lake eagles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label salt lake eagles. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Steve Durbano: PIM Champ In 4 Different Leagues


steve durbano st. louis blues 1972-73 o-pee-chee
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