Canadian former NHLer Ron Duguay's family gives update amid his stage 4 cancer fight: 'We need all the prayers we can get'

Former NHL star Ron Duguay's daughter gave a rare update on her father's battle with stage 4 colon cancer. On Sunday, Duguay's daughter, Shay Thomas, shared a black and white photo of herself sitting beside her father's hospital bed.

"I wasn't planning on posting anything. but I believe in the power of prayer, and right now, we need all the prayers we can get," the caption read. "And I know so many love him so much. Please keep our dad in your prayers."

In February 2026, Duguay's revealed that he had been living with stage 4 colon cancer for about a year. The athlete's family launched a GoFundMe to help offset medical costs which required Duguay to travel from his home in Florida to Orange County, Calif. for treatment every two weeks.

"I had a little something in my colon, that ended up in my liver. I had no idea," Duguay said during an interview with Sid Rosenberg in the Sid & Friends in the Morning radio show in February.

Duguay lives in Florida near his son, Noah, has been leaning heavily on his family for support. He said his daughters, Thomas and Amber Stavros, who live in California, "took charge" of his treatment.

"They would just lift me up…," he said. "That's what's important. You can't go negative. It's all positive. It's all good. They just put life into me and they just adore their dad and I love them back — it's been wonderful."

Duguay, who also has a son named Noah, has been leaning heavily on his family for support, along with Sarah Palin, former governor of Alaska, his partner since 2022.

In July, Duguay, who played in the NHL from 1977 to 1989, was hospitalized after fainting in his home. He was found unconscious and lost some teeth as a result of his fall.

"After extensive testing, doctors found that he was extremely dehydrated and had been struggling to eat because of how sick he had been feeling," Thomas wrote in a social media update. "They also discovered varices, portal hypertensive gastropathy, internal bleeding, and an ulcer."

On Aug. 25, Thomas shared an update on her dad's health in a lengthy Instagram post after Duguay underwent a round of treatment.

"He still has a lot of healing ahead," she wrote adding that her dad "continues to smile" and "crack his jokes."

"We are beyond grateful for every prayer, donation, message and support! I love all the old pics people send me of my dad! So continue to do so! This journey has been such a roller coaster, but through every high and low, we continue to put our trust in God and stay grateful for every bit of progress. Thank you so much for continuing to support and pray for him."

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