Toyo Tires Ducks Alumni Spotlight: Francois Beauchemin

Even though Francois Beauchemin says he's enjoying retirement, his post-hockey life has been anything but sedentary.
Beauchemin was in town earlier this month for the Hurricanes-Ducks game at Honda Center to celebrate the jersey worn by the Ducks in the historic 2014 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series game against the LA Kings at Dodger Stadium on Jan. 25, 2014. Beauchemin played a team-high 24:41 in that game, a 3-0 victory over the rival Kings in front of 54,099 fans, and he remembers it well.

"The atmosphere was great," he recalls. "First time playing in a stadium like that, the sound of the crowd was coming a few seconds later because they were so far away from the play. I remember that. Games against the Kings are always a big rivalry, so there are great memories. The family skate the day before. Those are things you'll always remember."
These days, Beauchemin is a far cry from the cheers of thousands, but he's a busy man. For starters, he and his family (wife Marie-Claude, sons Samuel and Cedric, and daughter Emily) moved from Orange County to his hometown of Sorel, Quebec, and are in the process of building a new house. When he's not helping out with his three kids' hockey practices, he's doing TV for Réseau des sports (RDS), checking in with Ducks prospects in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and preparing for snowmobile season. His playing days, for now, are over.
"All my buddies are asking if I want to play beer league," Beauchemin said with a hearty laugh. "Maybe after Christmas, but even then, I just bought a snowmobile. The season starts just after the holidays. I'm busy right now, and I don't really feel like playing beer league. There are a lot of things I want to do before that."

Beauchemin didn't have any real plans to "scout" until he and Ducks Executive Vice President/General Manager Bob Murray met after the 2017-18 season ended. "When I met with Murph after the season, he told me to enjoy the summer and do what I want to do," Beauchemin said. "[Murray also asked] in the fall, when hockey starts, if I wanted to see some games of the players we drafted playing in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Give them feedback."
The logistics made it possible for Beauchemin to check in with some of Anaheim's recent draft picks, including Antoine Morand, Benoit-Olivier Groulx, Hunter Drew and Max Comtois. He's also been in contact with Ducks Director of Player Development Todd Marchant. "I saw maybe 8-10 games of Morand and Groulx in Halifax, and Drew in Charlottetown," Beauchemin said. "They [recently] sent Comtois to Drummondville, so it's really easy to see him play because it's about 30 minutes from my house. I really enjoy doing that. I'm probably going to keep doing that in the next few months."
Beauchemin left an indelible mark with the Ducks and their fans. Among all-time franchise defensemen, Beauchemin ranks second in games played (592) and tied for second in goals (56). He also ranks third in scoring (196 points), assists (140) and plus/minus (+59), and first in shots (984). Beauchemin spent the majority of his NHL career here, which included three different stints with the Ducks, but Orange County wasn't just a place to live and work.
"We've had a lot of great seasons," Beauchemin said. "We won a Stanley Cup, but the first year we went to the conference final against Edmonton. The series we had against the Kings and Chicago Blackhawks. There were a lot of great seasons we had even though we didn't go all the way. Two of my kids being born here, and living here for so long, and them going to school here. All the friends we had while I played here was a great thing."

Beauchemin will forever be thankful for the opportunity to end his career here. After two seasons with the Colorado Avalanche, Beauchemin signed a one-year contract on Aug. 21, 2017 knowing the 2017-18 season would be his last.
"The last season I got to come back here and finish my career here is something I'll always be grateful of," he said. "I wasn't happy with the way things ended in Colorado, but it gave me a chance to come back here. When Bob called me in the middle of August, it was kind of a no-brainer for me to come back and finish off on the right foot."
Reflecting on that night at Dodger Stadium, Beauchemin says Southern California is deserving of another outdoor game. "Angel Stadium would be great. Just down the street from here. It would be a good idea. A lot of teams are doing it. They certainly deserve to get another one here." With it comes an alumni game. So while his friends' requests to get him out for beer league have still proven unsuccessful, Beauchemin wouldn't think twice if another game in this area was held under the lights.
"I would play in an alumni game, for sure," Beauchemin said with a smile. "Try to shoot on Jiggy [J.S. Giguere] again."