Robert Esche
|
|
Robert Esche is a goaltender who currently plays for the Philadelphia Flyers. 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 often hot-potato-like 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 won one major award for the NHL as well; in the 2003 season he tandemed as the backup to Roman Cechmanek to win the William M. Jennings Trophy (lowest team GAA) along with Martin Brodeur. Robert has also represented the United States in the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, shutting out a Russian side at Russia, and received the starting nod at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.