Former New York Rangers Star Ron Duguay Dies at 69

Ron Duguay, a charismatic NHL forward whose long, wavy hair and helmetless style made him a fan favorite with the New York Rangers during the late 1970s and 1980s, has died of cancer at age 69. Sarah Palin announced his death after spending the illness by his side, while a New York Rangers spokesperson confirmed that the player’s family informed the franchise of his passing on Thursday.

The Sudbury, Ontario, native played nearly 1,000 regular season and playoff games across his professional career, finishing with 673 points. Selected 13th overall by the Rangers in the 1977 amateur draft, Duguay spent his first six seasons with New York and reached the 1979 Stanley Cup Final.

The 1979 Stanley Cup Run and Broadway Icon Status

During the 1978-79 campaign, Duguay skated alongside a young core that included Ron Greschner, Steve Vickers, Dave Maloney, Don Maloney, and Don Murdoch under coach and general manager Fred Shero. The team went 40-29 with 11 ties to secure a playoff spot, eventually eliminating the Los Angeles Kings and Philadelphia Flyers before upsetting the top-seeded New York Islanders in six games to reach the Final.

Duguay became widely recognized for skating without a helmet with his curly hair flowing behind him. That distinctive look led to a starring role alongside Phil Esposito, Dave Maloney, and Anders Hedberg in a 1979 television commercial for Sasson jeans featuring the memorable jingle, Oo La La! Sasson.

On April 6, 1980, Duguay scored just nine seconds into an 8-3 victory against the Flyers at the Philadelphia Spectrum, tying a franchise record previously set by Fred Cook in 1927 and matched by Jean Ratelle in 1971. He earned All-Star honors as a point-a-game producer during the 1981-82 season.

Trades Across the League and Later Broadcasting Work

Subsequent trades sent Duguay to the Detroit Red Wings on June 13, 1983, before later stints with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Los Angeles Kings. He returned to the Rangers via a trade with the Penguins on January 21, 1987, and played the final two seasons of his NHL career after he was sent to the Kings on February 23, 1988, prior to playing in Germany and the minor leagues.

Rangers coach Mike Sullivan recalled playing alongside Duguay with San Diego in the International Hockey League during the 1990-91 season. Sullivan stated that he grew up watching Duguay in the NHL and was in awe to share the ice with him and Charlie Simmer, calling his passing a major loss for the franchise.

Generations of fans also came to know Duguay from his work on Rangers television broadcasts from 2007 through 2018. Over the past several months, Palin and Duguay’s daughter, Shay Thomas, posted updates asking for prayers, while his family launched a GoFundMe campaign earlier this year to assist with travel and treatment costs.

“It’s with a shattered heart but also deep peace knowing Ron is with Jesus now,” Palin posted on social media. “He fought so hard. Love never ends.”

The New York Rangers issued a statement mourning Duguay as one of the most popular players in franchise history, citing his signature style, skill, tenacity, and charisma at Madison Square Garden. The NHL Alumni Association also memorialized him, noting that his dedication and passion for hockey remained unwavering throughout his life.

“Ron lived life with an extraordinary passion, an infectious smile, and a heart that was truly larger than life,” the NHL Alumni Association said in a social media post. “Above all else, his deepest and most sincere love was for his family. They were his greatest pride, his greatest joy, and always closest to his heart.”

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