John Kordic grew up in Edmonton, a shy altar boy who loved hockey and adored his father. By eighteen, he had transformed into one of junior hockey’s most feared enforcers—encouraged by coaches, cheered by fans, and driven by the thrill of combat. His reputation carried him to the NHL, where he played for the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Quebec Nordiques. But behind the fights and the fame lay a darker story: steroids, cocaine, alcohol, and a lifestyle spiraling out of control. On August 8, 1992, after a violent struggle with police, Kordic’s life ended at just twenty-seven. In this gripping biography, Mark Zwolinski chronicles the meteoric rise and tragic fall of a man whose battles on and off the ice made him a symbol of hockey’s brutal culture.