Craig Muder
OBSERVER-DISPATCH

Westmoreland's Robert Esche has been named to the 2006 United State's Olympic Men's Hockey Team, he said today.

"I was extremely relieved when I learned I was on the team, which is how I knew for sure that it has been in the back of my head for a while," the Whitesboro native said. "It's a different thing all together to represent your country than to just playing for your city.

"Your city is home, but representing your country you think a lot about all the good things your forefathers did for us."

Esche has played for his country before as the starting goalie for the World Cup team in the fall of 2004. Esche was stellar in goal for Team USA, prompting several analysts to call Esche the Most Valuable Player of Team USA.

Esche, however, is not guaranteed to start when the Olympics begin Feb. 10 in Turin, Italy.

Competition from other goalies, including Rick DiPietro of the New York Islanders, and Esche's nagging groin injury have put the starting job up for grabs.

"They told me they're not sure who the starter is going to be yet," said Esche, who turns 28 on Jan. 22. "The evaluation process will be an ongoing thing, which is good for me because of my groin."

Esche aggravated the injury Thursday against Vancouver.

"By the third period, it was on fire," Esche said. He has been sidelined ever since. He is scheduled to resume skating after Christmas and begin playing again soon after that.

"The main reason I'm not back now is that it's a really huge year for us and that last thing I want is a nagging injury like I had with my hip a couple years ago," said Esche, whose Flyers were 19-8-4 heading into tonight's game against Buffalo. "The only thing I want to make sure of is that when I come back I'm 110 percent."

Esche said that should come sometime in January, and he expects to be ready to play in Turin.

"The international level is a different type of hockey," Esche said. "There's a lot of emotion and excitement.

"I'm really excited about it. I think it will be a great opportunity to represent the country and the Utica area as well. And if we win the gold, we'll have a huge parade down Genesee Street."