Beaudry goes out on top

by Jim Holland (courtesy of the Rapid City Journal)

For Rapid City Rush goaltender Miguel Beaudry, the time is right to step away.

“Realistically I only have a couple years left in me, so it was a good time to pick up and leave and start looking at life after hockey. We’ve all got to do that at some time,” Beaudry said.

Beaudry, who will be 28 on May 28, becomes the second member of the reigning Central Hockey League champions to depart Rapid City since hoisting the Ray Miron President’s Cup on May 4.

Forward Jon Pelle will continue his career with the Cardiff Devils of the Elite Ice Hockey League in the United Kingdom, while Beaudry will hang up his pads and skates for good after a seven-year professional career.

Beaudry and wife Renee, the Rush’s director of corporate fulfillment, will return to Ontario, Canada, where Miguel plans to take a job selling hockey equipment.

“There’s a lot of reasons why, but at the end of the day it came down to having a job offer I just couldn’t refuse at this time,” he said.

Beaudry’s record was 15-9-3 this year for the Rush, with a 3.28 goals-against average and .896 saves percentage.

He started the year splitting time in net with rookie Danny Battochio, but saw fewer starts as Battochio quickly progressed as one of the top net-minders in the league.

A highlight for Beaudry was Rapid City’s 3-2 victory over Colorado on the Eagles’ home ice on Nov. 21, the first of his two road wins over the Eagles and the first for the Rush at the Budweiser Events Center in seven tries.

The win ignited Rapid City’s 10-game winning streak and the Rush’s rise to the top of the Northern Conference.

Beaudry’s record of 16-20-6 in 2008-2009 reflected the growing pains of a new franchise, but also included three shut-outs.

The highlight was a 4-0 blanking of the Eagles on Nov. 29, 2008, the home debut of the Rush at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Ice Arena.

“I was talking to my wife about it and it was probably the most satisfying game I’ve played in personally,” he said.

Beaudry was on the bench when Scott Wray scored the championship-winning goal in a 4-3 win over the Allen Americans, clinching the best-of-seven series 4-2.

“When we got that goal I could just sit back and look at it and be happy for everyone that had worked so hard to get it,” Beaudry said.

“For him (Battochio) to get the ultimate reward was great,” he said.

Beaudry began his professional career with the New Mexico Scorpions in 2003-2004 and 2004-2005. He split the 2005-2006 season between the Memphis (now Mississippi) RiverKings and the now dormant Austin Ice Bats. He played two seasons with the Ice Bats before signing with Rapid City.

Miguel and Renee also spearheaded community involvement efforts helping a Pennington County Humane Society benefit calender featuring Rush players and coaches with their pets.

There are aspects of the game that Beaudry will be glad to leave behind.

“I’m not going to miss the bruises on the shoulders and the knees and I’m for sure not going to miss the hotel rooms and the 25-hour bus rides everywhere. That’s the big part of this. I just couldn’t take the bus trips anymore,” he said.

“The last seven years have been outstanding. The last two years to watch the organization grow and ultimately win a championship has been a lot of fun.”