Robert Esche
| Robert Esche | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Born |
January 22, 1978 Whitesboro, NY, US | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 225 lb (102 kg; 16 st 1 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Catches | Left | ||
| KHL team Former teams |
SKA Saint Petersburg Ak Bars Kazan Phoenix Coyotes Philadelphia Flyers | ||
| NHL draft |
139th overall, 1996 Phoenix Coyotes | ||
| Playing career | 1998–present | ||
Robert Esche (born January 22, 1978 in Whitesboro, New York) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Kontinental Hockey League's SKA Saint Petersburg.
Playing career
He started his career with the Phoenix Coyotes, only to be traded to the Flyers in a deal involving Michal Handzus and Brian Boucher. He hails from Whitesboro, New York, where he contributes much to the community and charitable organizations with his spare time. In 2004, he claimed the starting goaltending spot for the Flyers, and led them to the NHL Eastern Conference Finals, only to fall in seven games to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning.
Esche has represented the United States in the 1997 and 1998 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and the IIHF World Championships in 2000, shutting out Russia in Russia, an accomplishment he still lists as his greatest moment in hockey. He also represented the US team in 2001 and also received the starting nod at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.
Esche is nicknamed "Chico" after former Flyers goaltender Glenn "Chico" Resch because his sticks are labeled R. Esche.[1][2]
Esche was named to the 2006 US Men's Olympic Hockey Team in Turin. He played one game in the Olympic tournament, losing 5-4 to Russia.
While playing in Russia for Ak Bars, he posted a record of 22–5–2 with a 2.01 GAA and a .912 save percentage along with 4 shutouts.[3] He now plays in Russia's KHL with SKA St. Petersburg.
Esche played for the 2008 Team USA Hockey team in the World Championships which took place in Canada. He had earned some starts after sitting out the first few games, including a 42 save performance in a controversial 3-2 loss against Finland. He also posted a 9-1 victory against Norway.
Awards
- 1997–98: Second All-Star Team (OHL)
- 1998–99: All-Rookie Team (AHL)
- 2002–03: William M. Jennings Trophy shared with Roman Cechmanek, PHI and Martin Brodeur, NJ (NHL)
- 2002–03: Yanick Dupre Memorial (Philadelphia Flyers)
- 2003–04: Pelle Lindbergh Memorial (Philadelphia Flyers)
Records
Career statistics
Regular season
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995–96 | Detroit Whalers | OHL | 23 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 1139 | 71 | 1 | 3.74 |
| 1996–97 | Detroit Whalers | OHL | 58 | 24 | 28 | 2 | 3241 | 206 | 2 | 3.81 |
| 1997–98 | Plymouth Whalers | OHL | 48 | 29 | 13 | 4 | 2810 | 135 | 3 | 2.88 |
| 1998–99 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 130 | 7 | 0 | 3.23 |
| 1998–99 | Springfield Falcons | AHL | 55 | 24 | 20 | 6 | 2957 | 138 | 1 | 2.80 |
| 1999–00 | Springfield Falcons | AHL | 21 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 1207 | 61 | 2 | 3.03 |
| 1999–00 | Houston Aeros | IHL | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 419 | 16 | 2 | 2.29 |
| 1999–00 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 8 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 408 | 23 | 0 | 3.38 |
| 2000–01 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 25 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 1350 | 68 | 2 | 3.02 |
| 2001–02 | Springfield Falcons | AHL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 |
| 2001–02 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 22 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 1145 | 52 | 1 | 2.72 |
| 2002–03 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 30 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 1638 | 60 | 2 | 2.20 |
| 2003–04 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 40 | 21 | 11 | 7 | 2322 | 79 | 3 | 2.04 |
| 2004–05 | Did Not Play | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2005–06 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 40 | 22 | 11 | 5 | 2286 | 113 | 1 | 2.97 |
| 2006–07 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 18 | 5 | 9 | 1 | 860 | 62 | 1 | 4.32 |
| NHL CAREER TOTALS | 186 | 78 | 64 | 17 | 10140 | 464 | 10 | 2.75 | ||
Post season
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995–96 | Detroit Whalers | OHL | 3 | 0 | 2 | - | 105 | 4 | 0 | 2.29 |
| 1996–97 | Detroit Whalers | OHL | 5 | 1 | 4 | - | 317 | 19 | 0 | 3.60 |
| 1997–98 | Plymouth Whalers | OHL | 15 | 8 | 7 | - | 868 | 45 | 0 | 3.11 |
| 1998–99 | Springfield Falcons | AHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | - | 59 | 4 | 0 | 4.02 |
| 1999–00 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 3 | 1 | 2 | - | 179 | 12 | 0 | 4.01 |
| 2002–03 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | 30 | 1 | 0 | 2.00 |
| 2003–04 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 18 | 11 | 7 | - | 1060 | 41 | 1 | 2.32 |
| 2005–06 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 6 | 2 | 4 | - | 314 | 22 | 0 | 4.20 |
| NHL Totals | 28 | 14 | 13 | - | 1405 | 76 | 1 | 2.88 | ||
International play
Played for the United States in:
- 1997 World Junior Championships
- 1998 World Junior Championships
- 2000 World Championships
- 2001 World Championships
- 2004 World Cup of Hockey
- 2006 Olympic Games
- 2008 World Championships
Trivia
- Has Kid Rock, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, and Josh Berger painted on his mask.
External links
- 1978 births
- American ice hockey goaltenders
- Aq Bars Kazan players
- Detroit Whalers alumni
- Houston Aeros (IHL) players
- Living people
- Olympic ice hockey players of the United States
- People from Utica, New York
- Philadelphia Flyers players
- Phoenix Coyotes draft picks
- Phoenix Coyotes players
- Plymouth Whalers alumni
- Springfield Falcons players