Story Summary
Dave Maloney has paid tribute to Ron Duguay following the former New York Rangers forward’s death at the age of 69. Maloney, who played alongside Duguay for six seasons from 1977 to 1983, remembered a teammate with a positive attitude, a zest for life and a commitment to fitness that was unusual for the era.
Their shared Rangers years included a run to the 1979 Stanley Cup Final, a charitable recording with several teammates and the enduring Sasson jeans commercial in which Duguay, Maloney, Phil Esposito and Pat Hickey skated in Rangers jerseys and denim. For Maloney, those moments have become part of a much smaller but treasured window in a long life.
Duguay later worked as an analyst from 2007 to 2018, and Maloney said the personality he encountered in broadcasting was the same one he knew as a player: dynamic, sociable and without the arrogance some people may have expected from his public image.
Key Facts
- Ron Duguay died Thursday at the age of 69 after battling cancer.
- Dave Maloney and Ron Duguay were New York Rangers teammates for six seasons from 1977 to 1983.
- Maloney said Duguay’s children and wider family were central to his determination during his illness.
- Maloney said Duguay and his brother Don Maloney were ahead of their time in their commitment to physical fitness.
- The Rangers reached the 1979 Stanley Cup Final, losing the series in five games to the Montreal Canadiens.
- Duguay, Maloney, Phil Esposito, John Davidson and Pat Hickey recorded “The Hockey Sock Rock” to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
- Duguay, Maloney, Esposito and Hickey appeared together in a Sasson designer jeans television commercial.
- Duguay worked as an analyst from 2007 to 2018.
IHM Discussion
Maloney’s recollections give the tribute its particular weight because they move beyond Duguay’s celebrity and style. He remembered the player’s energy, but also his family focus during illness and his longstanding care for his physical condition. It is a portrait of somebody who was highly visible in New York yet remained recognisable to a former teammate decades later.
The Sasson commercial remains an especially vivid snapshot of a Rangers team whose profile grew during an exciting period for the franchise. Maloney linked those unexpected opportunities to winning and to a young group who may not have grasped at the time how memorable the experience would become. The commercial has endured partly because it captures the character of that hockey moment: talented players, a major city and an openness to the spotlight.
Maloney did not present Duguay as a one-dimensional personality. He acknowledged the stories surrounding Duguay’s social life while stressing that he was a good person. That distinction sits at the heart of the remembrance: Duguay was known for being larger than life, but those closest to him also saw a teammate and colleague who carried himself with warmth.
Why It Matters
Duguay’s death has prompted reflection on a Rangers era that remains meaningful to generations of supporters. The 1979 Final run did not end with the Stanley Cup, but it helped make those Rangers a distinctive New York team, with Esposito, Davidson, Hickey, Maloney and Duguay all part of its identity.
His place in the game extended beyond his playing career. Duguay’s later broadcasting work kept him connected to Rangers audiences, while the Sasson commercial became an unlikely piece of hockey cultural history. Maloney’s memories show why the image endured: it was rooted in genuine friendships and a period when the club’s young players were discovering the opportunities that accompanied success.
Mini Q&A
How long did Dave Maloney and Ron Duguay play together with the Rangers?
Maloney and Duguay were Rangers teammates for six seasons, from 1977 to 1983.
What was the Sasson commercial involving Ron Duguay?
Duguay, Maloney, Phil Esposito and Pat Hickey skated in Rangers jerseys and jeans while singing the “Oo, la la Sasson” jingle.
What did Dave Maloney say about Ron Duguay’s illness?
Maloney said Duguay fought cancer with a positive attitude and said his family was the basis for that fight.
Coach Mark Comment
The detail that stays with you is Maloney saying he could not have kept up with Duguay even when he was younger. It is affectionate teasing, but it also explains why the old commercial still has life: Duguay never seemed built to fade quietly into the background. Players are often remembered for a goal or a season; here, the lasting picture is of someone who made shared time feel bigger, whether it was a Final run, a charity record or a pair of jeans on skates.
IHM Final View
Ron Duguay will be remembered for far more than a famous commercial or his public image in New York. Dave Maloney’s tribute centres on a former teammate who embraced life, stayed close to the people he loved and left behind memories that have only gained meaning with time.