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, 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 2008-09 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.

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

Esche is married and has two children. He hails from Whitesboro, New York, where he contributes much to the community and charitable organizations with his spare time.

Esche is nicknamed "Chico" after former NHL goaltender Chico Resch because his sticks are labeled R. Esche.

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	Springfield Falcons	AHL		55	24	20	6	2957	138	1	2.80	.905
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
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
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
2011-12	SCL Tigers	NLA		40	15	25	0	2305	117	1	3.05	.898
NHL totals				186	78	64	22	10,140	464	10	2.75	.900

Playoffs

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	.920
1998-99	Springfield Falcons	AHL		1	0	1	59	4	0	4.02	.867
1999-00	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	.877
2009-10	SKA Saint Petersburg	KHL		4	—	—	236	9	0	2.29	.910
2010-11	HC Dinamo Minsk	KHL		4	—	—	216	7	0	1.94	.942
2011-12	SCL Tigers	NLA		4	4	0	259	8	0	1.85	.914
NHL totals				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	—
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	OG			1	0	1	0	59	5	0	5.10	.762
2008	United States	WC			4	—	—	—	198	7	0	2.12	.931
2009	United States	WC			8	3	5	0	480	25	0	3.12	.891
Senior int'l totals					25	9	11	1	1453	61	1	—	—

[ Source: Wikipedia ]