Dugal spent nearly two decades as the Canadiens' secretary-treasurer, running the business side of the club through multiple ownership changes. When head coach Cecil Hart resigned partway through the 1939–40 season, Dugal stepped behind the bench and briefly served as both coach and general manager, guiding the team to a playoff berth before Detroit eliminated them in the first round — a reflection of the small, overlapping management structure typical of the pre-expansion NHL.