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Sarah Palin says her heart is ‘shattered’ in heartbreaking statement as boyfriend Ron Duguay dies
Sarah Palin has shared that her heart is "shattered" after her boyfriend, Ron Duguay, tragically passed away at the age of 69.
The former NHL star's family confirmed that he died after being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, which originated in his colon before spreading to his appendix and gallbladder.
His daughter, Shay Thomas, announced the devastating news on Instagram, writing in the caption: "Our hearts are broken. We love you forever, Dad."
Palin, 62, later reshared Thomas' post on her Instagram Stories, paying an emotional tribute to her late love.
"It's with a shattered heart, but also deep peace knowing Ron is with Jesus now. He fought so hard. Love never ends," she penned.
Palin and Duguay confirmed their romance in 2022 after previously brushing off dating rumors and claiming they were "just friends" who "met through hockey".
The former Governor of Alaska told The New York Post that she reached out to the former athlete for advice during her defamation trial against The New York Times.
Amid the legal proceedings, Palin said her relationship with Duguay blossomed into a romance.
She said she felt "safe and comfortable" with him, adding: "Ron is the first person that I've ever even talked to about a lot of this personal stuff. So it's been helpful and refreshing to have Ron to talk to about not just politics, because he's got more common sense in his little finger than the collective in D.C., but just about life.
"He is French Canadian by birth, but he has been here for decades. In a lot of ways, he is more patriotic, more pro-America, more pro-freedom than a lot of people I know, and that includes a lot of politicians serving America," she said.
The politician shared that she admires that he values the freedoms and private enterprise in the United States.
"So that’s another mindset aspect. And he is really handsome. And, in fact, he’s in Alaska right now. He came to help me get my yard and property in order because he knows how busy I am with bustling down the campaign," she added at the time.
The former NHL star played his first six seasons with the New York Rangers after they selected him with the 13th pick in the draft in 1977.
The club issued a tribute statement about the retired athlete on Thursday, which read: "The New York Rangers organization mourns the loss of Ron Duguay, one of the most popular players in franchise history.
"Ron’s signature skating style - with his hair flowing as he moved down the ice - captivated the (Madison Square) Garden faithful, and his skill, tenacity and charisma earned him the admiration of all New Yorkers. We join the hockey community in sending our condolences to Ron’s friends, family and loved ones during this difficult time," they added.
Duguay also spent time with the Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Los Angeles Kings.
He ended his career in the league with 673 points in the regular season and playoffs, then played in Germany and the minors.
Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this time.