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Chico & Friends Challenge Esche saves the day
UTICA -- If this had been an NHL game, Robert Esche would have been none too happy about giving up a goal 30 seconds in. But this was a charity exhibition at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. He looked up after the goal and saw some 2,900 groaning and cheering people who had paid $15 each to Esche's Save of the Day Foundation. During the introductions, they had just given a prolonged standing ovation to the Whitesboro native and Philadelphia Flyers goalie, who brought about 30 fellow NHL stars for a three-game series of 4-on-4 hockey at the Chico & Friends Challenge. Although no one was allowed to check in front of him, Esche -- whose nickname is "Chico" -- displayed many of the moves that landed him on the U.S. national team. Most of the action was at his end as the Blue team edged his White squad, 13-12. "For a goalie it's no fun," said Esche of the no-contact rules. "It was a lot tougher than I thought it would be. But we're raising money for a good cause (helping families of children with life-threatening illnesses). And it is competitive -- we've got a private bet between the teams." The teams renew their friendly rivalry today and Saturday with 7 p.m. games at the Clinton Arena, where members of the old Clinton Comets will be honored. Buffalo Sabres goalie Martin Biron got the win by stopping a penalty shot by Carolina's Jesse Boulerice with 30 seconds left in the 50-minute game. Boulerice had tied the game at 12 two minutes before, but the Sabres' Rory Fitzpatrick answered with what proved to be the winning goal. "It doesn't matter," Biron said after the game. "It would have been more interesting if the penalty shot went in. We were all having fun. Chico's a great guy. All these guys could have just stayed home during the lockout, but they were here for a great cause." What must have been the Aud's largest hockey crowd in years jammed the concourse admiring sports memorabilia being offered in a silent auction. Former Philadelphia Flyers star Dave Schultz, who coached a minor-league team here and coached one of the squads Thursday night, is a principal in Simply Awesome, the memorabilia supplier, and shared the profits with the foundation. Amy Castle of Sodus went home $750 lighter after buying a framed, autographed photo of Simon Gagne and Martin Brodeur celebrating their 2002 Olympic gold medal and a collage of the New Jersey Devils. "I have a big collection, almost all hockey," she said. "I get to a few Buffalo Sabres games a year." Todd Vrooman, who played hockey in Whitesboro with Esche and Detroit Red Wings player Mark Mowers, took home a jersey autographed by former Flyers goalie Bernie Parent, for which he paid $300. Those who couldn't meet the minimum bids for such items as a copy of Mickey Mantle's contract or a color photo of Bobby Orr's famous goal could buy Save of the Day hockey pucks for $5 or shirts and caps for a bit more. Hundreds of fans lingered after the game, hoping for autographs from the NHL players. Eric Boulton of the Sabres and Shawn McEachern of the Atlanta Thrashers scored hat tricks for the winning Blue team, and John Madden of the New Jersey Devils had one for the White. Tom Fitzgerald of the Boston Bruins scored two goals 10 seconds apart in the first half, one on an assist from Esche. Contact Don Drumm at ddrumm@utica.gannett.com
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