Ex-Rangers star Ron Duguay battling cancer: ‘sucks the life out of you’
Popular former New York Rangers star Ron Duguay is battling Stage 4 cancer, and his daughters created a GoFundMe page to help cover expenses for his “medical, holistic, and travel costs required for his cancer care.”
Duguay told the New York Post, after contacted by Page Six, that “I find it extremely hard asking for funds for all these costs I’m going through. Normally I’m helping others.”
The 68-year-old battled cancer for years, though he continued to maintain an active public life and kept his illness out of the headlines. In April of 2025, Duguay’s girlfriend Sarah Palin, the former Governor of Alaska and 2008 Republican Vice-Presidential nominee, told reporters that he was “dealing with some health issues,” but didn’t elaborate further.
But “recently, his cancer numbers have started to rise again,” per the GoFundMe page, so his family stepped in to publicly seek financial support for his continuing treatment.
“[Cancer] sucks the life out of you,” Duguay told the New York Post. He added that it’s “so freaking costly.”
Earlier this month, Duguay made an appearance for a meet-and-greet with fans in New Jersey. And back on Dec. 13, he took part in a Centennial Night celebration at Madison Square Garden, part of the Rangers’ 100th anniversary season.
Duguay also remains very active on social media, commenting often on the Rangers, and, most recently, about the United States men winning the Olympic hockey gold medal.
Family of Rangers legend Ron Duguay seeks financial help for cancer treatment costs
The Rangers selected the Sudbury, Ontario, native in the first round (No. 13 overall) of the 1977 NHL Draft, and Duguay recorded 340 points in 499 games with them from 1977-83, and 1987-88. His 164 goals are 25th most in Rangers history.
Duguay scored 20 goals as a 20-year-old rookie in 1977-78 and an NHL career-high 40 with the Rangers in 1981-82. He helped the Rangers reach the Stanley Cup Final in 1979, where they lost in five games to the Montreal Canadiens, by scoring 27 goals in the regular season and five more in the playoffs.
There was no bigger heartthrob on the Rangers roster in the late ’70’s and early ’80’s than Duguay, whose good looks, long curly hair, and Studio 54 visits caught as much attention as his high-flying hockey skills. After his playing days, Duguay was a studio analyst for Rangers games on MSG Network, until his contract wasn’t renewed ahead of the 2018-19 season.
It left him sad, confused, and upset.
“They made it appear like it was a mutual agreement and that I wanted to do other things. That was not the case at all,” Duguay said at the time.
But Duguay’s remained loyal to the organization, an unabashed Rangers supporter, just like those who used to sit up in the old blue seats at MSG back in the day. And those his family hope can help him afford to keep up his cancer treatments now.
“Our dad has never been someone who asks for help…especially when it comes to money,” his daughter Shay wrote on the GoFundMe page. “He has always tried to handle everything on his own and didn’t want to burden anyone else with what he’s going through. But after many conversations as a family, we decided to create this fundraiser for him because we’ve seen firsthand the weight this battle has placed on him, both physically and financially.”
Duguay has bigger goal in mind.
“I need to get better so I can help others.”
