Robert Esche

Robert Esche
Esche in 2018
Born	(1978-01-22) January 22, 1978 (age 48) Whitesboro, New York, U.S.
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	225 lb (102 kg; 16 st 1 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Caught	Left
Played for	Phoenix Coyotes Philadelphia Flyers Ak Bars Kazan SKA Saint Petersburg Dinamo Minsk SCL Tigers
National team	United States
NHL draft	139th overall, 1996 Phoenix Coyotes
Playing career	1998–2012

Robert L. Esche (born January 22, 1978) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender who is the current president of the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League (AHL) and the Utica City FC of the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL). He previously played eight seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Phoenix Coyotes and Philadelphia Flyers.

Playing career

Esche started his career with the Phoenix Coyotes, only to be traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in a deal involving Michal Handzuš and Brian Boucher. ^[1] In 2004, he claimed the starting goaltending spot for the Flyers, and led them to the Eastern Conference Finals, only to fall in seven games to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning.

While playing in Russia for Ak Bars Kazan, he posted a record of 22–5–2 with a 2.01 goals against average (GAA) and a .912 save percentage, along with four shutouts.

Esche skated with Dinamo Minsk during the 2010–11 KHL season. In 2008–09, he posted a record of 21–14 with a 1.87 GAA and .912 save percentage, as well as nine shutouts.

On June 16, 2011, the SCL Tigers announced they had signed the 33-year-old Esche to a contract, ^[2] where he played 40 games, going 15-25, with a 3.05 GAA and .898 save percentage.

International play

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 represented the US team in 2001 and also received the starting nod at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.

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.

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.

Personal life

Esche has two children with his former wife Kelly.

Esche married Erica Hagan in August 2025.

Esche is nicknamed "Chico" after former NHL goaltender Chico Resch because his sticks were labeled R. Esche. ^[3]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season											Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	T	OTL	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%		GP	W	L	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
1994–95	Gloucester Rangers	CJHL		20	10	6	0	—	1034	70	0	4.06	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	Detroit Whalers	OHL		23	13	6	0	—	1139	71	1	3.74	.876		3	0	2	105	4	0	2.29	—
1996–97	Detroit Whalers	OHL		58	24	28	2	—	3241	206	2	3.81	.878		5	1	4	317	19	0	3.60	—
1997–98	Plymouth Whalers	OHL		48	29	13	4	—	2810	135	3	2.88	.896		15	8	7	868	45	0	3.11	.920
1998–99	Springfield Falcons	AHL		55	24	20	6	—	2957	138	1	2.80	.905		1	0	1	59	4	0	4.02	.867
1998–99	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		3	0	1	0	—	130	7	0	3.23	.860		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	Springfield Falcons	AHL		21	9	9	2	—	1207	61	2	3.03	.912		3	1	2	180	12	0	4.01	.878
1999–00	Houston Aeros	IHL		7	4	2	1	—	419	16	2	2.29	.922		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		8	2	5	0	—	408	23	0	3.38	.893		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		25	10	8	4	—	1350	68	2	3.02	.896		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		22	6	10	2	—	1145	52	1	2.72	.902		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Springfield Falcons	AHL		1	1	0	0	—	60	0	1	0.00	1.000		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		30	12	9	3	—	1638	60	2	2.20	.907		1	0	0	30	1	0	2.00	.929
2003–04	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		40	21	11	7	—	2322	79	3	2.04	.915		18	11	7	1060	41	1	2.32	.918
2005–06	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		40	22	11	—	5	2286	113	1	2.97	.897		6	2	4	314	22	0	4.20	.875
2006–07	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		18	5	9	—	1	860	62	1	4.32	.872		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Ak Bars Kazan	RSL		18	—	—	—	—	1095	34	3	1.86	.926		10	—	—	609	25	1	2.46	.885
2008–09	SKA Saint Petersburg	KHL		38	21	14	—	6	2183	68	9	1.87	.912		3	0	3	185	8	0	2.59	.877
2009–10	SKA Saint Petersburg	KHL		42	29	7	—	5	2527	87	6	2.07	.917		4	1	3	236	9	0	2.29	.910
2010–11	Dinamo Minsk	KHL		24	5	14	—	5	1383	76	0	3.30	.897		4	2	1	216	7	0	1.94	.942
2011–12	SCL Tigers	NLA		40	15	25	—	0	2305	117	1	3.05	.898		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
KHL totals				104	55	35	—	16	6093	231	15	2.27	.910		11	3	7	637	24	0	2.26	.915
NHL totals				186	78	64	16	6	10,140	464	10	2.75	.900		25	13	11	1405	64	1	2.73	.907

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	W	L	T	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
1998	United States	WJC		4	2	2	0	238	13	0	3.28	.922
2000	United States	WC		2	1	0	1	120	1	1	0.50	.984
2001	United States	WC		6	4	2	0	359	13	0	2.17	.931
2004	United States	WCH		4	1	3	0	237	10	0	2.53	.909
2006	United States	OLY		1	0	1	0	59	5	0	5.10	.762
2008	United States	WC		4	2	2	—	198	7	0	2.12	.931
2009	United States	WC		8	3	5	—	480	25	0	3.12	.891
Junior totals				4	2	2	0	238	13	0	3.28	.922
Senior totals				25	11	13	1	1453	61	1	2.52	.913

Awards and accomplishments

• 1997–98 : Second All-Star Team (OHL)
• 1998–99 : All-Rookie Team (AHL)
• 2002–03 : William M. Jennings Trophy shared with Roman Čechmánek, PHI and Martin Brodeur, NJ (NHL)
• 2002–03: Yanick Dupre Memorial (Philadelphia Flyers)
• 2003–04 : Pelle Lindbergh Memorial (Philadelphia Flyers)
• 2008 World Championships : Best save percentage (.931)
• 2008–09 : Played in KHL All-Star Game

References

1. "Flyers Acquire Center Michal Handzus and goaltender Robert Esche from Phoenix for Brian Boucher". Philadelphia Flyers. June 12, 2002. Archived from the original on August 3, 2002. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
2. "The SCL Tigers complete their defense with goaltender Robert Esche and the defender Philippe Rytz" (in German). scltigers.ch. June 16, 2011. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
3. "Robert L. 'Chico' Esche". The Goaltender Home Page. Retrieved April 17, 2013.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Eurohockey.com , or  Hockey-Reference.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database
• Robert Esche biography at hockeygoalies.org - advanced statistics and game logs

Preceded by Patrick Roy

Tri-winner of the Jennings Trophy (with Roman Cechmanek and Martin Brodeur) 2003

Succeeded by Martin Brodeur