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July 29, 2008

Paradise Valley's Esner joins RoadRunners

The Phoenix RoadRunners have announced that forward and Paradise Valley native Bryan Esner has agreed to terms on a contract for the 2008-09 season.
 
“I’m really excited to come full circle in my hockey career and have the chance to play professionally in front of my family and friends,” said Esner. “Hopefully we’ll have a good team and bring some excitement to the city.” 
 
Esner, 25, tallied 24 goals and 54 points in 71 games last season between the Pensacola Ice Pilots and the South Carolina Stingrays.  The second-year professional signed as a rookie free agent with South Carolina on Sep. 5, 2007 after attending rookie camp with the Phoenix Coyotes, and was later traded to Pensacola on Dec. 4 in exchange for defenseman Derrick Byfuglien.  Esner went on to lead the Ice Pilots with 21 goals, 49 points, and a plus-two rating despite playing in only 55 games with the club. 
 
“We’re excited about adding a player of Bryan’s caliber and are looking forward to seeing him in the line-up,” said RoadRunners head coach-director of hockey operations Brad Church.  “He possesses tremendous speed with a proven ability to score, and is a very good defensive forward.” 
 
Esner recorded 18 goals, 27 assists, and 45 points in 131 games during a four-year collegiate career from 2003 through 2007 at NCAA Division I Northeastern University.  Upon completion of his senior season at Northeastern, Esner signed an amateur tryout agreement with the Peoria Rivermen of the American Hockey League and appeared in 12 games collecting two penalty minutes.
 
Esner began his hockey career in the Valley playing for the Phoenix Junior Roadrunners and spent 10 years with the Tempe-based Desert Youth Hockey Association skating alongside current Coyotes prospect David Spina.   
 
He is the fourth player to come to terms with the RoadRunners for the 2008-09 season joining forwards Mitch Carefoot, Andrew Desjardins and Chris Stevens, and the first Arizona native to play for the RoadRunners during the club’s brief ECHL history.