Ron Duguay, the hockey great and partner of Sarah Palin, has died at 69 after battling colon cancer.
Palin, the former Alaska governor and former vice presidential candidate, shared the news on social media Thursday. “It’s with a shattered heart, but also deep peace knowing Ron is with Jesus now. He fought so hard. Love never ends,” she wrote.
Duguay was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer in December 2024. The disease later spread to his liver.
He spent 12 seasons in the NHL between 1977 and 1989, earning particular recognition during his time with the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings.
The Rangers paid tribute to Duguay in a statement, saying: “The New York Rangers organization mourns the loss of Ron Duguay, one of the most popular players in franchise history. Ron’s signature skating style—with his hair flowing as he moved down the ice—captivated The Garden Faithful, and his skill, tenacity, and charisma earned him the admiration of all New Yorkers.
“We join the hockey community in sending our condolences to Ron’s friends, family, and loved ones during this difficult time.”
Sarah Palin’s partner and hockey legend Ron Duguay, pictured in 2022, has died at 69
The former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate announced his death on Thursday
Duguay played for the Rangers, Penguins, Red Wings and Kings during his NHL career
On October 18, Palin appealed for prayers for Duguay, posting a photograph of herself holding his hand as he lay in a hospital bed. “Prayers for Ron Duguay so appreciated,” Palin, 62, wrote on Instagram.
In another post, Palin paired an inspirational quote with an image of herself gazing at Duguay.
Duguay’s daughter, Shay Thomas, had also issued an emotional plea earlier this month, asking hockey fans to continue praying for her father.
“I wasn’t planning on posting anything, but I believe in the power of prayer, and right now, we need all the prayers we can get. And I know so many love him so much. Please keep our dad in your prayers. @noah_duguay @amberstavros,” Shay wrote.
She accompanied the message with a photograph of herself kneeling beside her father’s hospital bed, resting a hand on his lap.
The family revealed Duguay’s diagnosis in February and launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the cost of his treatment.
“Because of his cancer, he hasn’t been able to work the way he normally would,” his daughter wrote on the fundraising page.
“Earlier in his treatment journey, the care he received in Florida nearly cost him his life. That led us to bring him to Orange County, where my sister and I live, so he could receive treatment here.”
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In July, Duguay was taken to the hospital after he was found unconscious at home following a fall that caused severe injuries to his face.
The 69-year-old former NHL player fainted at his residence on July 24 and was transported by ambulance to a nearby medical facility.
Doctors’ tests uncovered serious complications connected to his cancer, including varices, portal hypertensive gastropathy, internal bleeding and an ulcer.
The New York Rangers icon has been battling Stage 4 colon cancer for over a year
Former Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin, has been seen by Duguay’s side during treatment
She took to Instagram earlier this week to issue a desperate plea for prayers for Duguay
His daughter, Shay Thomas, also recently shared a heartbreaking post calling for prayers
Shay revealed at the time that the cancer in his liver – combined with the physical toll of surgery, chemotherapy, and a hepatic pump – caused severe pressure to build up inside the organ, backing up into his stomach and causing internal bleeding.
While Duguay and Palin have been closely linked since 2022 and she has frequently been seen at his bedside throughout his illness – including in family videos showing her feeding him in his hospital bed – the two never officially confirmed their relationship status publicly.
Duguay and his daughter opened up on his relationship with Palin in an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail earlier this year.
Shay revealed they are ‘very close,’ adding that ‘they haven’t been able to see each other as much lately because of what my dad is going through, and Sarah also has obligations caring for her son, Trig, who requires additional care.’
‘I go there at different times,’ Duguay himself explained. ‘I help with her landscaping in the summer, and I help in the winter clearing a little bit of snow, so I happened to be there in October… but unfortunately, I wasn’t feeling myself, so I had to leave.’
While Duguay was undergoing chemotherapy treatment, he lost both his gallbladder and his appendix during his battle against the disease.
Duguay enjoyed a stellar 12-season NHL career from 1977 to 1989, making over 860 appearances across stints with the Rangers, Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins and Los Angeles Kings.
Drafted 13th overall by the Rangers in 1977, the forward became a fan favorite in New York.
He recorded 216 goals and 320 assists for 536 career points, highlighted by a standout 1981-82 season where he notched a career-high 40 goals.
Following his retirement from professional hockey, Duguay transitioned into broadcasting, serving as an in-studio analyst for MSG Network’s coverage of the Rangers for 12 years before stepping away in 2018.