Ron Duguay, iconic Rangers forward, dead at 69 after cancer battle

Ron Duguay, a 12-year NHL veteran most famous for his paparazzi-and-celebrity-filled time as a Ranger, died on Thursday after a battle with colon cancer, according to his girlfriend Sarah Palin.He was 69. Drafted 13th overall by the Blueshirts in 1977, Duguay was a speedy and skillful offensive-minded forward whose feathered curls made him easily identifiable on the ice. His six seasons in New York were highlighted by a run to the 1979 Stanley Cup Final, where the Rangers lost to the Montreal Canadiens in five games.

Over 499 games with the Rangers, Duguay finished with 164 goals and 176 assists for 340 points. To this day, Duguay is still tied for the franchise record for the fastest goal scored from the start of the game, having netted one just nine seconds into a matchup against the Flyers on April, 6, 1980. Madison Square Garden brought the best out of Duguay, whose widespread appeal made him a New York sensation.“As soon as I stepped on the ice, I could feel the energy.You then become more than a hockey player,” he told TVA Sports in 2023.

“You become an artist, because you entertain and you have an opportunity to make spectators jump out of their seats every time you make a check.”Duguay was so much more than a hockey player during his time in the NHL.The boy from Sudbury, Ontario redefined the possibilities for professional hockey players and, in turn, boosted the league’s popularity. The Sasson jeans commercial – in which Duguay and his Rangers teammates Phil Esposito, Anders Hedberg and Dave Maloney modeled the brand and memorably jingled “ooh la la” – is a notable intersection of sports and pop culture.

Now, it’s just a fun piece of Rangers lore. Duguay’s Hollywood look, Studio-54 lifestyle and fervor for life opened doors no other NHL player had walked through at the time. In 1980, Rod Gilbert introduced Duguay to famous artist Andy Warhol, who went on to put No.10 on the cover of his magazine, “Interview“, and feature...