He is the grandson of Hall-of-Famer Bryan Hextall, the son of former NHL player Bryan Hextall Jr and nephew of former NHL player Dennis Hextall. He played the position of goaltender.

Ron Hextall spent the bulk of his career in two stints with the Philadelphia Flyers (1986-87 to 1991-92, and 1994-95 to 1998-99). He and Jacques Plante are considered responsible for revolutionizing the position of goaltender, leaving the goal mouth regularly to play the puck with his stick. This style is now commonplace in hockey today, with goaltenders like Martin Brodeur and Rick DiPietro perfecting the art of more proactive goaltending.

Hextall was known, too, for his great temper, something which made him a fan-favorite in the city of Philadelphia. He holds the record for most penalty minutes by a goaltender in one season with 113 in 1988-1989.

On December 8, 1987, Hextall became the first goalie in NHL history to score a goal by actually putting the puck in the net. (On November 28, 1979, Billy Smith of the NHL's New York Islanders was the first goalie to score a goal only due to the fact he was the last player of the opposite team to touch the puck before it went into the net.) Hextall replicated the feat in the playoffs. On April 11, 1989, he again fired the puck into the open net, against Washington, thus also becoming the first goalie to score in a playoff game.

Ron Hextall was also the winner of the Vezina Trophy (NHL's Best Goaltender) and the Conn Smythe Trophy (NHL Playoff MVP), as well as being named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 1987 as a rookie for the Philadelphia Flyers, as the Flyers took the powerful Edmonton Oilers to seven games during the Stanley Cup Finals. The Calder Trophy was the only honor that eluded Hextall that year as he finished second behind Luc Robitaille. He was also remembered for a slash on Edmonton's Kent Nilsson in the 1987 Stanley Cup Finals; any Oiler player that approached the Flyers' net would recieve welts on their legs from Hextall's stick.

Hextall was traded to the Quebec Nordiques in a trade involving Eric Lindros among several others. He spent the 1992-93 NHL season there, helping the Nordiques to make the playoffs for the first time in several years. Hextall then moved on to the New York Islanders for 1993-94. The Flyers reacquired him in 1994 and he helped them reach the finals in 1997, although he did not have a strong series as he let in several soft goals. He finished out his career with the Flyers in 1999.

In June of 2006, the Los Angeles Kings named Ron Hextall as Assistant General Manager. In addition, Hextall will serve as the General Manager of the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League, the Kings' primary affiliate.

Prior to playing in the NHL, Hextall won the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award in 1986 as the top rookie of the American Hockey League, while playing for the Hershey Bears.

Hockey