Robert Esche

Robert L. Esche (born January 22, 1978) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for SCL Tigers of National League A.
==Playing career==
Robert Esche started his career with the Phoenix Coyotes, only to be traded to the Flyers in a deal involving Michal Handzuš 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.
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.
He skated with Dynamo-Minsk during the 2010–11 KHL season. In 2008–2009 he posted a record of 21–14 with a 1.87 Goals against average, and .912 save percentage. He also posted 9 shutouts.
On June 16, 2011, the SCL Tigers announced they have signed the 33 year old Esche to a contract and will arrive in late July to start his training with the team
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 and accomplishments==
*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)
*2008 World Championships: Best save percentage (.931)
*2008–09: Played in KHL All-Star Game
==Career statistics==
===Regular season===
  	  	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Season 	Team 	League 	 	GP 	W 	L 	T/OTL	MIN 	GA 	SO	GAA 	SV%
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	.878
1997–98 	Plymouth Whalers 	OHL 	 	48 	29	13	4 	2810 	135	3 	2.88	.896
1998–99 	Phoenix Coyotes 	NHL 	 	3 	0 	1 	0 	130 	7 	0 	3.23	.860
1998–99 	Springfield Falcons 	AHL 	 	55 	24	20	6 	2957 	138	1 	2.80	—
1999–2000 	Springfield Falcons 	AHL 	 	21 	9 	9 	2 	1207 	61 	2 	3.03	.912
1999–2000 	Houston Aeros 	IHL 	 	7 	4 	2 	1 	419 	16 	2 	2.29	.922
1999–2000 	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 	Springfield Falcons 	AHL 	 	1 	1 	0 	0 	60 	0 	1 	0.00	1.000
2001–02 	Phoenix Coyotes 	NHL 	 	22 	6 	10	2 	1145 	52 	1 	2.72	.902
2002–03 	Philadelphia Flyers 	NHL 	 	30 	12	9 	3 	1638 	60 	2 	2.20	.907
2003–04 	Philadelphia Flyers 	NHL 	 	40 	21	11	7 	2322 	79 	3 	2.04	.915
2005–06 	Philadelphia Flyers 	NHL 	 	40 	22	11	5 	2286 	113	1 	2.97	.897
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	—
2008–09 	SKA Saint Petersburg	KHL 	 	38 	21	14	6 	2183 	68 	9 	1.87	.912
2009–10 	SKA Saint Petersburg	KHL 	 	42 	29	7 	5 	2527 	87 	6 	2.07	.917
2010–11 	HC Dinamo Minsk 	KHL 	 	24 	5 	14	5 	1383 	76 	0 	3.30	.897
NHL totals	NHL totals 	NHL totals	 	186	78	64	22 	10140	464	10	2.75	.900
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
===Post season===
  	  	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Season 	Team 	League 	 	GP	W 	L 	MIN 	GA	SO	GAA 	SV%
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	.867
1999–2000 	Springfield Falcons 	AHL 	 	3 	1 	2 	180 	12	0 	4.01	.878
2002–03 	Philadelphia Flyers 	NHL 	 	1 	0 	0 	30 	1 	0 	2.00	.929
2003–04 	Philadelphia Flyers 	NHL 	 	18	11	7 	1060	41	1 	2.32	.918
2005–06 	Philadelphia Flyers 	NHL 	 	6 	2 	4 	314 	22	0 	4.20	.875
2007–08 	AK Bars Kazan 	RSL 	 	10	— 	– 	609 	25	1 	2.46	—
2008–09 	SKA Saint Petersburg	KHL 	 	3 	0 	3 	185 	8 	0 	2.59	—
NHL totals	NHL totals 	NHL totals	 	25	13	11	1405	64	1 	2.73	.907
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
==International play==
Played for the United States in:
*1997 World Junior Championships
*1998 World Junior Championships
*2000 World Championships
*2001 World Championships
*2006 Olympic Games
*2008 World Championships
*2009 World Championships
==Family==
Esche is married and has two children.
==References==
==External links==
*
*
*Bob Esche's U.S. Olympic Team bio
*Save of the Day Foundation – Robert Esche Charity Foundation
Category:SCL Tigers players
Category:Born in 1978
Category:American ice hockey players
Category:Detroit Whalers alumni
Category:Ak Bars Kazan players
Category:Houston Aeros (IHL) players
Category:2006 Olympian
Category:Olympic ice hockey players of the United States
Category:Philadelphia Flyers players
Category:Phoenix Coyotes draft picks
Category:Phoenix Coyotes players
Category:Plymouth Whalers alumni
Category:SKA Saint Petersburg players
Category:Springfield Falcons players
Category:William M. Jennings Trophy winners