Steve Durbano: NHL Career, Cocaine Trafficking, Addiction, and Tragic End

Post-NHL Career and Decline

• 🏒 After leaving the Red Wings, Steve Durbano signed with the St. Louis Blues but played only 13 games due to a viral infection (hepatitis) and a broken hand from punching a bag.
• ⚠️ Known for his aggressive play and frequent suspensions, he accumulated 103 penalty minutes in those 13 games, leading to his final departure from professional hockey.
• 💬 Durbano often expressed a desire to clean up his act and prove himself, but his actions, including "mooning" the crowd and constant fighting, contradicted these claims.

Cocaine Trafficking and Imprisonment

• ✈️ In 1981, Durbano was arrested at Toronto's international airport for importing cocaine from Colombia (later Peru/Bolivia) and possession for trafficking.
• 👟 He famously claimed he didn't know 474 grams of cocaine were hidden in the soles and heels of his shoes, a defense his lawyer called him a "big lug" and a "dupe" for.
• ⚖️ Convicted of smuggling, Durbano was sentenced to seven years in prison, the minimum sentence for the charge, after being found with $568,000 worth of 99% pure cocaine.
• 💉 During his time in prison, he admitted to being an addict and using $700-$1,000 worth of cocaine daily, often injecting it into his arms.

Post-Prison Life and Further Legal Issues

• 🚧 After parole, Durbano attempted to rebuild his life, working various jobs like bartending and construction, and managing his father's golf course.
• 🗣️ He controversially claimed that 20-25% of NHL players used drugs, an assertion dismissed by league officials and former teammates who called him "bitter."
• 🚨 In 1991, he was arrested for shoplifting five shirts worth $168, having only $12 in his wallet, and received a suspended sentence.
• 🚫 By 1995, Durbano was on welfare and arrested again for operating an "escort service" from his townhouse, attempting to recruit women for prostitution, and was sentenced to three months in jail.

Health Decline and Tragic End

• 📉 Durbano's health deteriorated due to alcohol-related liver damage and hepatitis, which he likely contracted from injecting drugs.
• 📍 He eventually moved to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, selling cleaning supplies, but his physical condition worsened.
• 💔 Steve Durbano died at age 50 in 2002 from liver cancer, having been told he had a year to live but continued drinking.
• 😔 His life was characterized by a cycle of addiction, legal troubles, and failed attempts at rehabilitation, leaving a legacy of unfulfilled potential.