Sarah Palin announces boyfriend and former NHL player Ron Duguay’s death at age 69: ‘Love never ends’

Duguay played for the New York Rangers and the Detroit Red Wings during his NHL career.

Former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin has announced the death of her boyfriend, former NHL player and coach Ron Duguay.

“It’s with a shattered heart, but also deep peace knowing Ron is with Jesus now,” Palin, 62, wrote Thursday on her Instagram Story, indicating that the hockey star died earlier that day at age 69.

“He fought so hard,” Palin added, finishing her note by telling her followers, “Love never ends.”

Palin additionally shared a post from Duguay’s daughter, Shay Thomas, who wrote, “Our hearts are broken. We love you forever, Dad.”

Thomas also posted an image of her father wearing a hockey jersey, with text over the photo.

“Ron Duguay passed away peacefully on October 22, 2026 after a hard fought battle with cancer,” the text read. “A celebration of life will be announced at a later date.”

Per Entertainment Weekly’s sister publication, PEOPLE, Duguay was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer that later spread to his appendix and gallbladder.

Born in Canada, Duguay went on to become a major NHL star upon joining the New York Rangers team in 1977. He’d later transfer to play for the Detroit Red Wings and, briefly, for the Pittsburgh Penguins, before returning to the Rangers in 1987. He was also a longtime broadcaster at the MSG Network, where he appeared on-air from 2007 to 2018.

Palin and Duguay began dating in 2022, after Palin finalized her divorce from ex-husband Todd Palin in 2020.

The formerly married couple were a noted presence on the 2008 presidential election trail, making frequent appearances together as Todd supported Sarah during her bid to become the late Sen. John McCain’s VP if the duo won the election against Barack Obama.

Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.

Sarah’s performance on the campaign trail, however, was widely mocked — particularly by Tina Fey, whose impression of the former governor of Alaska on Saturday Night Live is regarded as one of the best in the series’ history.

See Thomas’ tribute to Duguay in the Instagram post above.