Esche bringing hockey buddies to town to help terminally ill kids
Sun, Oct 17, 2004
CRAIG MUDER
Observer-Dispatch
WESTMORELAND -- Robert Esche cannot play professional hockey this fall.
So the Whitesboro native is doing the next-best thing, bringing 30 or so of his National Hockey League friends home to help some special kids in the Mohawk Valley.
Esche will host the Chico and Friends Challenge 4-on-4 hockey tournament Nov. 11 at the Utica Memorial Auditorium and Nov. 12-13 at the Clinton Arena. "Chico" is the 26-year-old goalie for the Philadelphia Flyers who still makes his home in Westmoreland.
Esche usually is not home this time of year. But with the NHL owners locking out the players in a labor dispute, Esche is putting his time to good use.
All proceeds from the games go to Esche's Save of the Day Foundation, which benefits serious and terminally ill children in the Mohawk Valley.
"The owners may be locking us out, but hockey is still great -- and the guys are still good guys," said Esche, wearing a National Hockey League Players Association sweatshirt while talking in his new home. "These guys will be leaving their families and coming to Utica, N.Y., for three days for free. You'd have a hard time convincing 30 people to do anything -- and these guys are just lining up to come here and play."
Tickets for the games are $15 each and can be purchased -- starting Tuesday -- at the Aud box office, via phone at 738-0164 or at the Clinton Arena box office.
Among those scheduled to play are Tony Amonte, John LeClair, Keith Primeau and Eric Weinrich of the Flyers; Jamie Langenbrunner, John Madden and Jay Pandolfo of the New Jersey Devils; Erik Cole of the Carolina Hurricanes; and Joe Nieuwendyk of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Esche and Martin Biron of the Buffalo Sabres will be the goalies, but don't look for too much defense. The 4-on-4 format will be offensively augmented by the lack of a red line and penalty shots on every penalty called.
"I'm going to come back to play and embarrass myself," Esche joked.
Hardly. Esche's foundation has raised thousands of dollars for kids via softball games and golf tournaments. And many of the tickets for the games will be sold to youth hockey players who will live the dream of seeing their NHL heroes play on local rinks.
"I grew up a product of youth hockey in Upstate New York, so I know what it means to be able to see games like this," said Cole, who is from Oswego. "We'd all like to be working now, not sitting around. But this tournament Rob has set up is a great way to connect with the fans."
Esche, a staunch supporter of the union's fight against the owners' demand for a salary cap, says he has been overwhelmed by support from his NHL friends.
"Guys I don't even know are coming and asking to play," Esche said. "I mean, we hate the Devils during the season. But Langenbrunner, Madden, Pandolfo -- all those guys want to come and help.
"There are about 750 NHL players, and right now it's like we're on a 750-person team. If anything, the lockout has brought the players together. I think the owners underestimated that."
Contact Craig Muder at cmuder@utica.gannett.com
When: Nov. 11 at Utica Memorial Auditorium; Nov. 12-13 at Clinton Arena.
Tickets: $15, on sale Tuesday at the Aud box office, via phone at 738-0164 and at the Clinton Arena box office.
Proceeds benefit: Robert Esche Save of the Day Foundation for serious and terminally ill children in the Mohawk Valley.
Web site: saveoftheday.org
