Ron Duguay, Popular Rangers Forward With the Flowing Hair, Dies at 69

Ron Duguay, the fast, free skating forward whose long hair and celebrity life off the ice made him one of the most popular players in New York Rangers history, died on Thursday, October 22, 2026. He was 69.

The Rangers announced his death after his family told the team. Duguay had cancer. In February he said he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer, and he told the New York Post the cancer started in his colon. He battled the disease for more than a year and lost his appendix and his gallbladder during treatment, according to NHL.com.

"The New York Rangers organization mourns the loss of Ron Duguay, one of the most popular players in franchise history," the team said. "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."

Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor, had been dating Duguay for several years and was with him through the illness. She announced his death on social media. "It's with a shattered heart but also deep peace knowing Ron is with Jesus now," she wrote. "He fought so hard. Love never ends."

The NHL Alumni Association said Duguay "lived life with an extraordinary passion, an infectious smile, and a heart that was truly larger than life," and said his deepest love was for his family. The league itself said it mourned "a charismatic figure who made a lasting impression on the game."

A Garden favourite from 1977

Duguay was born in Sudbury, Ontario, and the Rangers picked him 13th overall in the 1977 NHL Draft. He scored 20 goals as a rookie and became a fixture at Madison Square Garden, skating without a helmet in an era when that was still allowed, his hair streaming behind him on the rush.

His best spring came in 1979, when the Rangers reached the Stanley Cup Final before losing to the Montreal Canadiens in five games. His best season came in 1981-82, when he scored a career high 40 goals and earned his only All-Star selection.

Duguay played parts of eight of his 12 NHL seasons with the Rangers, from 1977 to 1983 and again from 1986 to 1988. He also played for the Detroit Red Wings, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Los Angeles Kings. He finished his career with 274 goals and 620 points in 860 regular season games, and added 53 points in 89 playoff games. He retired after the 1988-89 season and later worked as a Rangers analyst on MSG Network for 12 years.

He is still tied for the Rangers record for the fastest goal from the start of a game, scored nine seconds into a match against the Philadelphia Flyers on April 6, 1980.