ALLEN, Texas – The second installment of Pro Hockey News’ ongoing series ‘Goalie masks of the Central Hockey League’ spotlights Allen Americans netminder Rejean Beauchemin . Beauchemin is currently in his sixth pro season and his first in the CHL. A sixth round draft pick (191st overall) of the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Beauchemin has played the majority of his career in the ECHL with another 25 games played in the AHL. He recently received a new Allen Americans-themed mask and spoke with Pro Hockey News about the mask and the personal meaning of some of the elements in the design. Beauchemin came up with the concept of the artwork himself – he wanted a clean and simple design and worked with a new artist to bring the idea together. 
The front of the mask features the Americans logo on the crown and the number 32, Beauchemin’s uniform number, on the chin. It also features a simulated bullet hole, which is repeated in various spots around the mask, a homage to goaltenders getting ‘shot at’ on a nightly basis. 
The left and right sides of the mask are virtually identical, save for the placement of a few simulated bullet holes. The main section is pearl white with several faint silver stars scattered along the borders. The bottom of the mask features some typical Texas wildlife imagery: cactus and coyotes. 
The back headplate is where Beauchemin has added his personal touches. Along with the continuation of the stars and bullet holes, Beauchemin has added the initials ‘BTY.’ This stands for ‘Better Than Yesterday,’ which is a personal slogan he has adopted – he always strives to be better than the day before.
At the bottom left of the headplate is the logo for the Festival du Voyageur, an annual Winter festival in Beauchemin’s hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Although he misses the festival every year due to his career, the heritage and history it celebrates is important to him.
Lastly, ‘TD34 – BELIEVE’ appears on the lower right. This is a tribute to Todd Davison, a long time friend of Beauchemin who passed away in 2006.
Davison was a hockey player with a bright future who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer just after graduating high school. After a surgery to treat the disease ended his career, he turned his drive and focus to assisting young victims and survivors of cancer, through a new foundation named ‘Believe In The Goal.’
More information on Davison and ‘Believe In The Goal’ can be found here:
A very special thanks go to Rejean Beauchemin for taking time out of his day to speak with Pro Hockey News and share the stories behind his mask.
Contact the writer/photographer at chip.crail@prohockeynews.com
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