Robert Esche
 |
|
| Position | Goaltender |
| Catches | Left |
| Nickname(s) | Chico Silent Bob |
| Height Weight |
ft in
( m) 222 lb (101 kg) |
| RSL Team F. Teams |
Ak Bars Kazan Phoenix Coyotes Philadelphia Flyers |
| Nationality |  United States |
| Born | January 22 1978 , Whitesboro, NY, US |
| NHL Draft | 139th overall, 1996 Phoenix Coyotes |
| Pro Career | 1998 – present |
Robert Esche (born January 22, 1978 in Whitesboro, New York) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Russian Super League's Ak Bars Kazan.
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 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, in 1997, and 1998, 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 receiving 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 to Russia, 5-4.
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 | 22 | 10139 | 464 | 10 | 2.74 | ||
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
- 1997 - Played for the United States in the 1997 World Junior Championships
- 1998 - Played for the United States in the 1998 World Junior Championships
- 2000 - Played for the United States in the 2000 World Championships
- 2001 - Played for the United States in the 2001 World Championships
- 2004 - Played for the United States in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey
- 2006 - Played for the United States in the 2006 Olympic Winter Games
Trivia
- Has Kid Rock, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash painted on his mask
External links
- Robert Esche's U.S. Olympic Team bio
- Robert Esche's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
- Save of the Day Foundation - Robert Esche Charity Foundation
| Preceded by Patrick Roy |
Co-winner of the Jennings
Trophy 2003 |
Succeeded by Martin Brodeur |
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