Sarah Palin Seemingly Addresses Those Ron Duguay Dating Rumors

Sarah Palin's night of dining out on January 26 attracted headlines for multiple reasons. For one, Palin had recently tested positive for COVID-19 for the second time, which meant that Manhattan's Elio's Eatery risked a $1,000 fine for letting her dine indoors, per The New York Times. The second news item was decidedly more fun, being Palin's choice of dining companion in the studly ex-NHL star Ron Duguay. With Duguay being reportedly single and Palin's divorce finalized in 2020, speculation about a romance betwixt the two began flying right away, with Page Six reporting earlier in January that the two had coupled up. (However, a source close to Palin told People that they were "just friends" who "met through hockey.")

Duguay even acted quite the protective "date" to Palin at their dinner. According to the Daily News, a photographer –  apparently perturbed by Palin's COVID-19 status — approached their table and asked, "Are any of you guys concerned that she tested positive for COVID? I'm just curious." Duguay reportedly stood up and fired back, "Are you looking for trouble?" before knocking his camera into the ground. (The New York Police Department was alerted to the incident but since declared the situation resolved, per the Daily News.) 

As people continue to speculate about her and Duguay's supposed romance, the former governor of Alaska has seemingly addressed the rumors directly. 

Just buddies? In the first acknowledgment of her rumored new flame, New York Rangers player Ron Duguay, Sarah Palin — vaguely — characterized the nature of their relationship to Page Six in a February 3 comment. "He's my buddy. We have hockey in common," America's most famous (and self-proclaimed) "hockey mom" said of the retired pro athlete.

As the outlet noted, however, Palin — who has recently been in New York for her defamation lawsuit against The New York Times — was seen entering the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Courthouse in Manhattan on February 3 wearing (what else?) a New York Rangers face mask.

The two are both certainly single enough to mingle. Palin finalized her divorce from ex-husband Todd Palin in March 2020, per Page Six, with Todd citing an "incompatibility of temperament between the parties such that they find it impossible to live together as husband and wife." Meanwhile, according to People, Duguay divorced supermodel Kim Alexis in 2013 after 20 years of marriage.