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. 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, 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.

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

External links

Robert Esche biography at hockeygoalies.org - advanced statistics and game logs