Francois Beauchemin is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who played as a defenseman in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over 14 seasons. He was born on June 4, 1980, in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, Canada, and began his hockey career in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the Laval Titan in 1997.
Beauchemin was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the third round of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, but he did not make his NHL debut until the 2002-03 season with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He played in 11 games for the Blue Jackets before being traded to the Anaheim Ducks in November 2005.
It was with the Ducks that Beauchemin had the most success in his career. He played for the team from 2005 to 2009 and again from 2011 to 2015. During his time with the Ducks, he was a key member of the team's defense and helped them win the Stanley Cup in 2007. He also played in the NHL All-Star Game in 2012.
In addition to the Ducks and Blue Jackets, Beauchemin also played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Colorado Avalanche. He was traded to the Maple Leafs in 2009 and played for the team for two seasons before being traded back to the Ducks in 2011. He signed with the Avalanche as a free agent in 2015 and played for the team for three seasons before retiring in 2018.
Throughout his career, Beauchemin was known for his physical play and his ability to block shots. He was also a leader on and off the ice, serving as an alternate captain for several of the teams he played for.
In total, Beauchemin played in 903 NHL games, scoring 73 goals and 198 assists for a total of 271 points. He also played in 97 playoff games, scoring 8 goals and 23 assists for a total of 31 points.
After retiring from hockey, Beauchemin returned to his hometown of Sorel-Tracy and became involved in coaching youth hockey. He also started a hockey equipment company called Beauchemin Hockey, which sells custom-made sticks and other equipment.
Overall, Francois Beauchemin had a successful career in the NHL, playing for several teams and winning a Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks. He was known for his physical play, leadership, and ability to block shots, and he continues to be involved in the hockey community through coaching and his equipment company.
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