Robert Esche

**Robert Esche** (born January 22, 1978) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played parts of eight seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the Phoenix Coyotes and Philadelphia Flyers. He also played for Ak Bars Kazan of the Russian Superleague (RSL), SKA Saint Petersburg and Dinamo Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), and SCL Tigers of the National League A (NLA).

In 2012, he retired from playing professional ice hockey. After retiring, Esche took a job to become the President of the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League (AHL) and co-owner of Utica City FC of the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL).

## 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)

### Regular season

|colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"||rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff"|||||||||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|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|

### Post season

|colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"||rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff"|||||||||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|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|

## 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

## Other websites

- Bob Esche's U.S. Olympic Team bio
- Save of the Day Foundation - Robert Esche Charity Foundation

## Infobox (ice hockey player)

- **image**: Robert Esche 2018.jpg
- **image size**: 230px
- **birth place**: Whitesboro, New York, Whitesboro, New York (state), New York
- **height ft**: 6
- **height in**: 2
- **weight lb**: 225
- **position**: Goaltender
- **catches**: Left
- **played for**: Arizona Coyotes, Phoenix Coyotes
Philadelphia Flyers
Ak Bars Kazan
SKA Saint Petersburg
HC Dinamo Minsk, Dinamo Minsk
SCL Tigers
- **ntl team**: United States
- **draft**: 139th overall
- **draft year**: 1996
- **draft team**: Arizona Coyotes, Phoenix Coyotes
- **career start**: 1998
- **career end**: 2012