Crombeen was born in Sarnia, Ontario. As a youth, he played in the 1969 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Sarnia. He played his junior hockey with the Kingston Canadians of the OHA from 1973–1977, playing in 244 games, while getting 322 points. His best season was 1974–75, when he earned 114 points in 69 games. In 19 career playoff games, he earned 21 points. Crombeen was drafted by the Cleveland Barons with the 5th overall pick in the 1977 NHL amateur draft, and was also selected by the Edmonton Oilers with the 4th overall pick in the 1977 WHA Amateur Draft. Crombeen elected to join the Barons. Crombeen split the 1977–78 season between the minors and the NHL, playing with the Salt Lake Golden Eagles of the CHL, getting 8 points in 12 games, and the Binghamton Dusters of the AHL, getting 3 points in 13 games, along with 48 games with the Cleveland Barons, scoring 7 points. As the Barons franchise folded and many of their players were absorbed by the Minnesota North Stars, Crombeen found himself left unprotected, and was picked up by the St. Louis Blues in the dispersal draft. Crombeen then started the 1978–79 season with the Golden Eagles, scoring 15 points in 30 games, before joining the St. Louis Blues for 37 games, getting 11 points. In 1979–80, Crombeen spent the entire season with the Blues, getting 22 points in 71 games, and appeared in his first NHL playoffs, going pointless in 2 games. Crombeen then registered 23 points in 69 games in 1980–81, and chipped in with 3 goals in 11 playoff games, including a goal in double overtime that clinched the Blues' first-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins. 1981–82 was the most productive season of Crombeen's career, getting a career high 27 points in 71 games, and earned 4 points in 10 playoff games. He played in all 80 games in the 1982–83 season, getting 17 points, then earned an assist in 4 playoff games. On October 3, 1983, the Hartford Whalers picked up Crombeen off of waivers. Crombeen spent the 1983–84 season with the Whalers, getting 5 points in 56 games, then split the 1984–85 season with Hartford, getting 11 points in 46 games, and with the Binghamton Whalers of the AHL, earning 3 points in 6 games. After the season, Crombeen announced his retirement from hockey.
Personal
His son, B.J. Crombeen, has played 445 NHL games with four teams.
