Former Aero Esche named to U.S. Olympic Team
December 19, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release
HOUSTON, Texas - Goaltender Robert Esche, who played seven games for the Houston Aeros in the 1999-2000 season, has been named to the United States Olympic Ice Hockey Team for the upcoming Games in Turin. Team U.S.A. was announced tonight at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.
Esche went 4-2-1 with a 2.29 gaa in his stint with Houston. He also tended the nets in 21 games for AHL Springfield that season and in eight contests for the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes. Esche is 11-4-2 with a 3.14 gaa in 18 games this season for the Philadelphia Flyers.
Esche will likely be joined in Turin by former Aero and current Detroit Red Wing Robert Lang, a member of the last two Czech Olympic Teams. Lang totaled eight points (1-7=8) in nine games for Houston in the 1997-98 season. Another favorite for an Olympic selection is Tony Tuzzolino, for host Italy. Tuzzolino was a member of the Aeros' 2003 Calder Cup-winning team, posting 15 points (9-6=15) in 50 regular-season games and eight points (4-4=8) while playing in all 23 playoff contests. Tuzzolino, a native of Buffalo, N.Y., has spent the last three seasons playing in Italy.
The United States opens up play Wednesday, Feb. 15 versus Latvia.
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