A native of Whitesboro, NY, Robert Esche played eight seasons in the NHL. Drafted 139th Overall in 1996 by the Phoenix Coyotes, Esche played in Arizona until he joined the Flyers in 2002, where he led the Flyers to the Eastern Conference Finals two years later.
In addition to his success in the NHL, Esche represented the United States in the World Junior Hockey Championships in 1997 and 1998 and the IIHF World Championships in 2000 and 2008. He also represented Team USA in the 2006 Olympics in Turin.
Esche returned home to begin several business ventures including Aqua Vino Restaurant, Esche's Family Farms, the Mohawk Valley Garden and Utica Comets AHL team and the MASL's Utica City FC.
