SHOCKERS' PLAYER PROFILE: Steve Diabo

In this week's spotlight, the big baller, shot caller himself, Steve Diabo will be exposed and exploited just like his ancestors were back in the day (that was a low blow, I'm not going to lie) in this edition of Shockers' Player Profile.

Steve's story starts way back before he was born, his grandfather, Jeremiah Running Water Diabo, was actually a well-known, self-taught lacrosse player in four out of the five native american nations. Unfortunately, his dominance in the lacross world was cut short due to the devastations at Wounded Knee forced him and his family to flee Omaha, Nebraska away from the threats of the U.S. 7th Cavalry (need more historical info of this event, click here).

The long trek, lead the him and his wife Misty Sky Rainbow to Cornwall, Ontario where Jeremiah Running Water Diabo had setup a fur trading post. This is where the Diabo family were coined the nickname "Fur Trader Diabo" by the white men. The family laid low in Cornwall until Steve's father was born, Wahtata:Towe! Diabo a.k.a Murrey in the mid-1900's.

Murrey, always a rebel, was not to be held down in Ontario and decided to venture further east and settle in Oka, Quebec. Murrey, not much of a surfer, enjoyed the beach life and became a familiar face at the Oka beach. During the winter, Murrey discovered his talents in Lacrosse, passed down from his forefathers. Since he had been exposed to white-culture, hockey infected his lifestyle and discovered an amazing talent while on ice. Murrey was a instant star. Four-time lacrosse MVP and several appearances in the National Lacrosse League All-Star games. He was also the leading scorer in several hockey leagues in the area of Oka. Unfortunately for him, Gino Odjick, Jordan Tootoo, Aaron Asham and Jonathan Cheechoo broke into the NHL too late for Murrey Diabo to make his big break as Natives were still frowned upon by the NHL. Murrey never got his chance in the big leagues but was still a ladies man nonetheless. Everyone knew who he was in the community and was invited to many big events, including the first ever North American Indigenous Games; this is where he would meet the love of his life.

A fun-loving, feisty gal; a volonteer at the games, called herself Bare Winters but all her friends knew her as "Diamond." Murrey, a fan of this young lady, later married her and had three children, the first of which was Steve.

Murrey, now immersed in family life, became frustrated with Oka. He claimed that the beach-life had become too commercialized for him and he needed to shelter his family from "the man." Also, a controvesery commenced, referred to the Oka Crisis and Murrey was not prepared to deal with a stand-off with the white man. Diamond, decendent of a Navajo family, was already used to a nomadic lifestyle and proposed to move to a small town, not a on a reservation, but close enough to one so they would not forget their people. Murrey and Diamond through a dart at a map and it landed on Chateauguay, Quebec.

Chateauguay hosted a rich hockey culture for eldest son, Steve, to hone his skills. His younger brother Chris (who can be seen in the Shockers line-up) and the youngest, sister, Brittany, all became familiar with a hockey stick. Steve was deemed one of the finest as he grew up and many saw a bright future, much like when his father was his age.

In high school, Steve inherited the old family nickname, Fur Trader Diabo and when he graduated, his yearbook was filled with wishes of success in the NHL. Unfortunately, Steve was coaxed into working for a local cigarette shack and lost focus on his visions of grandure. His was living life in the fast lane, driving fast cars, eating at fancy restaurants, playing in a rock band and living life to the fullest, until businesses started folding up. A government crack-down started sending more and more people out of under-the-table jobs, cigarette shacks started to close up and money was being tied up by government officials. Steve escaped the judicial hammer but lost most of what he could call his former lifestyle.

Steve started to lose control of life. He and his girlfriend ended their relationship, the rock band went on hiatus, the restaurants turned into McDonalds' and Wendy's and he began drinking in shadey places. Steve was even seen hanging out with strange clowns on Ste-Catherine street in Montreal.

Before Steve's dark ages kicked in, he met Andrew Stevens and was introduced to the Shockers. Steve had known Stevens before through high school, hockey and through friends. Stevens knew how good of a hockey player Steve was and knew that he could make a big impact in the NABHL.

Steve made his Shockers debut in season one of the Shockers' history book along side his friends Stevens and Jon Sante. The formed the Shockers first line and called themselves the "8-9 line." Unfortunately, the line lasted the first period of the first game of the first season and was disbanded. The line would never reassemble ever again.

Second two came around and Steve decided to take a season off to recollect himself and concentrate on ice hockey career, the love he had lost during his Big Baller period. Steve returned to help out for a handful of games but did not sign on full-time until the off-season.

He was added to the roster for this season with his kid brother, Chris, and together are a force to be reckonned with in the NABHL.

Come watch Steve race for the goal scoring title next Monday as he and the Shockers take on last season's champs, the Grinders.