Ducks blueliner Francois Beauchemin out six months with torn ACL; team recalls Ryan, Festerling from AHL

ANAHEIM, Calif. - The Anaheim Ducks have lost defenceman Francois Beauchemin to injury for approximately six months, the club announced Saturday.

Beauchemin suffered a torn left anterior cruciate ligament in the third period of Friday's 4-3 loss to Nashville.

Beauchemin, who appeared in 18 games with Anaheim this season and scored five points (four goals, one assist), underwent an MRI exam Saturday which revealed the injury.

"This is an unfortunate injury for Francois and we feel badly for him," said Ducks GM Bob Murray in a statement. "However, knowing his character as a player and person, we know he will rebound from this and return to the ice at full strength.

"Our team has faced adversity before and we expect everyone to step up in his absence."

Those players will likely include right wing Bobby Ryan and defenceman Brett Festerling, who were both called up Saturday from the Iowa Chops of the American Hockey League.

Ryan appeared in 14 games for Iowa this season, scoring nine goals and adding 10 assists with a plus-two rating. The six-foot-two, 208-pound winger - selected in the first round (second overall) of the 2005 NHL entry draft - is tied for third in scoring in the AHL, and tied for fourth in goals.

Festerling, who has yet to make his NHL debut, has five assists with a plus-two rating and 14 PIM in 14 games with Iowa this season. The 6-1, 214-pound blue-liner ranked second among team defencemen in scoring.