Ron Duguay, a forward who spent eight of his 12 NHL seasons with the New York Rangers, died Thursday at age 69 after a battle with cancer. Duguay had been diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer that later spread to his liver, a fight he first revealed publicly in February 2026.
Duguay’s career began when the Rangers took him 13th overall in the 1977 NHL draft and ran through nearly 1,000 NHL games from the late 1970s through the 1980s.
The Main Development
A spokesperson for the Rangers said Thursday that Duguay’s family informed the team of his death, according to FOX Sports. His family had been open about the severity of his illness in recent months.
Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee who had been dating Duguay since 2022, posted a message confirming his passing. “It’s with a shattered heart but also deep peace knowing Ron is with Jesus now. He fought so hard. Love never ends,” Palin wrote, according to the New York Post.
Duguay’s Career With The Rangers
Born in Sudbury, Ontario, Duguay spent his first six seasons in New York after the Rangers drafted him in 1977. He became an All-Star in 1981-82 as a point-a-game producer, according to FOX Sports.
His signature moment with the franchise came in 1978-79, his second NHL season, when the Rangers advanced to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1972. Duguay posted five goals and four assists over 18 playoff games that postseason, but New York fell to the Montreal Canadiens in five games, according to Bleacher Report.
Duguay’s NHL path took him away from New York and back again. The Rangers traded him to the Detroit Red Wings ahead of the 1983-84 season, where he spent more than two years, before a trade sent him to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1986. He returned to the Rangers in a January 1987 trade, then closed his NHL career with the Los Angeles Kings late in the 1987-88 season before retiring after 1988-89. He also played in Germany and the minor leagues after leaving the NHL.
Career Numbers And Context
Duguay finished with 274 goals and 346 assists in 864 NHL games across four teams, per Bleacher Report. FOX Sports reported his combined regular-season and playoff point total at 673.
Earlier in 2026, Duguay’s family started a GoFundMe campaign to help cover travel and medical treatment costs tied to his cancer fight. In July 2026, his daughter, Shay Thomas, said on Instagram that the cancer had spread to his liver and that he was recovering after fainting at home from severe dehydration.
What’s Next
No memorial or funeral details have been announced. Duguay’s family revealed his Stage 4 colon cancer diagnosis in February 2026.
Don't stop here
Every Score. Every Story. One Home.
Breaking sports, entertainment and news from across the Total Apex network, updated all day.
Get the Full Story →
