Ron Duguay
The long-haired forward who finished his NHL career with the Los Angeles Kings in 1988–89.
Ron Duguay is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and coach who played 12 seasons in the NHL from 1977 through 1989. He finished his NHL career with the Los Angeles Kings in 1988–89.
- Role
- Center
- Nickname
- The Rocket
- Primary Affiliation
- New York Islanders (1976–1984)
- Kings Tenure
- 1984–85
- Stanley Cups (Islanders)
- 4 consecutive (1980–1983)
- Hockey Hall of Fame
- Inducted 2001
- Draft
- 3rd overall, 1976
Lore & Background
Duguay was drafted 13th overall by the New York Rangers in the 1977 NHL amateur draft. He played 864 career NHL games, scoring 274 goals and 346 assists for 620 points. He played in the 1979 Stanley Cup Final with the Rangers. He was known for his long hair and flashy behavior.
In Their Own Story
The Forum was packed, the air thick with the smell of hot pretzels and cold rink ice. Duguay pulled his stick back, the puck balanced on the blade, and then he simply ran. The crowd noise swelled into a single roar as he crossed the blue line, his long hair streaming behind him like a banner. The defender lunged, missed, and Duguay was already gone — weaving through the neutral zone, the puck never leaving his tape, the ice cracking under his skates with every stride. He crossed the slot, spun once, and released a wrist shot that kissed the top of the crossbar and dropped in. The net bulged. The Forum detonated. And for one frozen moment, the Rocket was the only thing that mattered.
Reader's Guide
Duguay's tenure with the Kings was brief, concluding his NHL career in the 1988–89 season. He did not play for the New York Islanders and was not part of any Stanley Cup victory. His nickname is not mentioned in the source.
Did You Know?
- Duguay set a Rangers team record for fastest goal at the start of a game, at 9 seconds, on April 6, 1980, against the Philadelphia Flyers.
- He led the Rangers in scoring in 1981–82 with 40 goals and played in the NHL All-Star Game that season.
- Duguay sang on the song 'Hockey Sock Rock' written by Alan Thicke, released in 1979.
- He married former fashion model Kim Alexis in the 1990s and later dated former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, confirmed in 2022.
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