Many people search for Ron Duguay Wikipedia to learn who he was, how old he was, and what happened in his life. This page gives you the facts in plain words, from his boyhood in Ontario to his years as a Rangers star and his death on October 22, 2026. Every fact comes from public records and news reports, so you can read with trust.
Who is Ron Duguay and Why Does He Matter?
Ron Duguay was a Canadian ice hockey player and coach. His full name was Ronald Duguay, and friends often called him Doogie. He was born on July 6, 1957, in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. He grew up in the small town of Val Caron, which is close to Sudbury.
He played 12 seasons in the National Hockey League, also called the NHL. The New York Rangers picked him 13th overall in the 1977 draft, and fans there loved him. He was famous for his long curly hair, which flew behind him because he skated without a helmet.
He also sang on a hockey song, worked as a Rangers television expert, and raised money for children through charity work.
Quick Fact: Ron Duguay played 864 NHL games. He scored 274 goals and gave 346 assists, for 620 points.
Ron Duguay Current Status as of October 23, 2026
Important Date: Ron Duguay died on Thursday, October 22, 2026. He was 69 years old.
The sad news came from his family and from his partner, Sarah Palin. His children and Palin shared a post that said their hearts were broken and they loved him forever. Palin also wrote that she was heartbroken but at peace, because she believed he was with Jesus. The New York Rangers shared a statement that said the team mourned the loss of one of the most popular players in its history.
Ron Duguay had been sick with colon cancer for more than a year. His family told the public in February 2026 that he had stage 4 cancer. Later reports said the cancer had spread to his liver. During his care, he lost his appendix and gallbladder. In July 2026, he was taken to the hospital after he fainted at home. Doctors found that he was very dehydrated and had struggled to eat because he felt so ill.
His daughters set up a fund to help with the cost of care. He traveled from his home in Florida to California for treatment, as often as every two weeks. His daughter Shay Thomas shared updates online and asked fans to pray for her father.
Remembered With Love: Fans and family call him a loving father and an example for young players.
What to Know About Ron Duguay
| Full Name | Ronald Duguay |
|---|---|
| Born | July 6, 1957, in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | October 22, 2026, at age 69 |
| Height | 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm) |
| Position | Centre, shot right |
| NHL Draft | 13th overall, 1977, New York Rangers |
| Teams | Rangers, Red Wings, Penguins, Kings |
Early Life and Family Background
Ron grew up in the Sudbury area of northern Ontario. Hockey records say he was one of five children, and his father was an electrician. He started to skate when he was about three years old. His parents helped build a small outdoor rink near home so he could practice. That backyard start grew into a long hockey life.
Career
Ron played junior hockey for his hometown team, the Sudbury Wolves, from 1973 to 1977. In the 1975 to 1976 season he scored 134 points, and his team won the Hamilton Spectator Trophy for the best record in the regular season. He also played for Canada at the 1977 World Junior Championships, where Canada won silver.
He joined the Rangers right after the draft and scored 20 goals as a rookie. In 1979, the Rangers reached the Stanley Cup Final. They did not win, and Ron never won the Cup as a player. On April 6, 1980, he scored a goal just 9 seconds into a game against the Flyers, which is a Rangers record for the fastest goal at the start of a game. In the 1981 to 1982 season he led the team with 40 goals and played in the NHL All Star Game.
In June 1983, the Rangers traded him to the Detroit Red Wings. There he scored 38 goals and 89 points in 1984 to 1985, his best season for points. He then played for the Penguins, returned to the Rangers in 1987, and ended his NHL days with the Los Angeles Kings in 1988 to 1989.
He kept playing in smaller leagues, including a short time in Germany. He later coached the Jacksonville Barracudas to a title in 2003 to 2004. From 2007 to 2018, he was a Rangers television expert for the MSG Network. In 2009 he skated on Battle of the Blades with Barbara Underhill to raise money for World Vision Canada. The Sudbury Wolves have retired his jersey.
Age
Ron Duguay was born on July 6, 1957, and died on October 22, 2026, so he lived to be 69 years old.
Religion
Ron did not share a public statement about his faith. In her tribute, Sarah Palin wrote that he is with Jesus. Beyond that, we have no verified record of his religion, so we will not guess.
Wife or Husband
Ron married twice and had one long relationship late in life. On December 1, 1983, he married California model Robin Bobo. They had two daughters and later divorced. In the 1990s, he married former fashion model Kim Alexis. They moved to Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, and divorced in 2016. In early 2022, he confirmed he was dating Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor. They stayed together until his death.
He leaves behind three children. News reports name his daughters, Amber Stavros and Shay Thomas, and his son, Noah.
Net Worth
Please Note: No trusted source has shared Ron Duguay’s real net worth. Some websites guess numbers from 2 million to 10 million dollars, but those guesses do not agree and none comes with proof.
He earned from 12 NHL seasons, years in smaller leagues, television work, and public events. His family also set up a fundraiser for his medical costs. Treat any exact net worth number with care.
Parents
Public sources do not name Ron’s mother and father. We know his father was an electrician and that his parents helped build his outdoor rink. Some low quality websites list parent names, but we could not match them with a reliable record, so we left them out.
Height
Ron stood 6 feet 2 inches tall, or 188 centimeters. Listings show his playing weight at 200 to 210 pounds.
Education
There is no verified public record of the schools Ron attended. We do know he played junior hockey with the Sudbury Wolves and went straight into the NHL at age 20.
State of Origin
Canada has provinces, not states. Ron came from Ontario. He was born in Sudbury and raised in Val Caron, now part of Greater Sudbury. He later lived in Florida.
Social Media Links
We could not confirm one official account that is still run by Ron himself, and fake accounts exist, so we will not link to a guess. These pages are real and safe to open:
His daughter Shay Thomas shared family updates on Instagram during his illness.
Ron Duguay FAQ
Who was Ron Duguay?
Ron Duguay was a Canadian hockey player who played 12 NHL seasons, mostly with the New York Rangers. He later coached and worked as a television expert.
How old was Ron Duguay when he died?
He was 69. He was born on July 6, 1957, and died on October 22, 2026.
What did Ron Duguay die from?
He died after a long fight with colon cancer. His family said in February 2026 that it was stage 4, and later reports said it had spread to his liver.
Did Ron Duguay win a Stanley Cup?
No. He played in the 1979 Stanley Cup Final with the Rangers, but his team did not win.
Who was Ron Duguay married to?
He married model Robin Bobo in 1983 and model Kim Alexis in the 1990s. He was dating Sarah Palin from 2022 until his death.
How many children did Ron Duguay have?
He had three children: daughters Amber Stavros and Shay Thomas, and a son named Noah.
Where was Ron Duguay born?
He was born in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, and grew up in nearby Val Caron.
Final Word
Ron Duguay was more than a name on a stats page. He was a boy from northern Ontario who learned to skate on a rink his parents helped build, and he grew into a Rangers favorite whose hair became part of New York sports history.
His last years were hard. He faced stage 4 cancer in public and kept fighting while his children stayed close. His death on October 22, 2026, was felt by the Rangers, by his hometown, and by fans who grew up watching him fly down the ice.
If you came here from a Ron Duguay Wikipedia search, we hope this page gave you clear and honest facts. We will update it if new, verified details are shared by his family or by trusted news sources.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It uses public reports and records available as of October 23, 2026. Details such as net worth, parents, and education are not publicly confirmed, and we have said so in the text. If you spot an error, please contact us so we can fix it. This page does not give medical, legal, or financial advice.
