Drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes as the 139th pick overall in the 1996 National Hockey League Draft, Robert Esche has cemented his legacy as one of the greatest players to ever put on the skates from the Mohawk Valley.

Esche, currently serving as the Owner/President of the AHL’s Utica Comets, had a solid career on the ice that spanned 17 seasons. He played in the Ontario Hockey League, American Hockey League, International Hockey League, National Hockey League, Russian Super League, Kontinental Hockey League (Russia), and the National League A (Switzerland) in a career that spanned 1995-2012.

Throughout his career, Esche brought pride and notoriety to the Mohawk Valley most notably with the Phoenix Coyotes and Philadelphia Flyers. Esche’s win-loss record of 78-64 overall in 186 games played was solid and included 22 ties. 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 in 2007- 08, he posted a record of 22–5–2 with a 2.01 GAA and a .912 save percentage along with 4 shutouts. In 2008–09 he posted a record of 21–14 with a 1.87 Goals Against Average and .912 save percentage with the SKA Saint Petersburg entry in the KHL. He also posted 9 shutouts.

In international play, Esche 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, a very difficult accomplishment to have made. He represented the United States 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. He also 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.

Esche received the Pelle Lindbergh Award in 2003-4, the William Jennings Award in 2002-03 and the Yanick Dupree Memorial Award in 2002-03. He was selected to the All-Rookie Team in the AHL in 1988-89, the KHL All-Star Team in 2008-09, and was a member of the 2006 USA Olympic team. He also was a member of four World Championship squads.

Additionally, Esche founded the “Save of the Day” Foundation in 2003 to assist local families of the Mohawk Valley. Throughout the past decade, the Rob Esche “Save of the Day” Foundation has raised over a million dollars for terminally ill children of the Mohawk Valley through fundraising events such as the Save of the Day Foundation Golf Outing, Charity Softball Games, and Galas.