Bob Essensa

Lore & Background

Essensa dominated junior B hockey in the Toronto area, leading the Henry Carr Crusaders to an undefeated regular season and the Sutherland Cup in 1982–83. He was selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1983 draft and then played four years at Michigan State University, where he posted a 62–13–2 record and won CCHA and NCAA championships. After a brief AHL stint, he made his NHL debut in 1988–89 and became Winnipeg's starting goaltender, averaging nearly 60 games per season for four years. He was traded to the Detroit Red Wings in 1993–94 but struggled, eventually being usurped by rookie Chris Osgood. After stints in the minors and with the Edmonton Oilers, he signed with the Phoenix Coyotes in 1999–2000, extending his franchise records for games and wins by a goalie. He joined the Vancouver Canucks for the 2000–01 season, backing up Félix Potvin and later splitting duties with Dan Cloutier, finishing with an 18–12–3 record in 39 appearances as the Canucks were eliminated by the Colorado Avalanche in the playoffs. He retired after a brief, winless stint with the Buffalo Sabres in 2001–02.

Reader's Guide

Bob Essensa's significance lies in his transformation from a junior B standout to a durable NHL starter and later a respected backup. His four seasons as Winnipeg's workhorse goaltender, averaging nearly 60 games per year, established him as a key figure in the franchise's history; he still holds franchise records for games played and wins by a goalie. His college career at Michigan State, where he won CCHA and NCAA championships and set school records for goals-against average and shutouts, underscored his pedigree. Though his trade to Detroit in 1993–94 was considered a disappointment, he later re-established himself as an above-average backup with Edmonton and Phoenix. His one season with Vancouver in 2000–01 produced his highest win total since 1994, demonstrating his continued effectiveness. After retiring, he became the goaltending coach for the Boston Bruins in 2003, a role in which he earned his name on the Stanley Cup in 2011. His coaching tenure, spanning over two decades, has made him a lasting figure in the NHL, and his personal connection to the Detroit area—where he lives with his family—ties his career to both Canadian and American hockey communities.

Did You Know?

• Essensa played in the 1978 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Toronto Shopsy's minor ice hockey team.
• He was the MVP of the Fullan Division all-star game in the Ontario Junior B league in 1982–83.
• At age 50, he dressed as a backup goalie for the Boston Bruins in a 2015 game after Tuukka Rask left due to suspected dehydration.
• He brought the Stanley Cup to local establishments in Oxford, Lake Orion, and Clarkston, Michigan after the Bruins' 2011 championship.