Getting to Know a Bear – Riley Barber

Photo: Riley Barber

Riley Barber, a 6’0” and weighs 188 pound Right-Winger, He was born in Pittsburgh, PA on February 7, 1994 and originally drafted in the sixth round by the Washington Capitals during the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

After the 2012 draft, Barber attended Miami University of Ohio and played hockey with the school’s team, the Warhawks. He had an outstanding freshman season scoring 15 goals, which was second on the team in scoring. Not only was Barber getting to the net, he account for 24 assists that year. By years end, he had 39 points in 40 games. He was also a member of the 2013 World Junior Team for the USA which won the Gold Medal that year.

Barber continued to excel for the Warhawks during his sophomore and junior years and was named Captain of the USA squad for the World Junior games in 2015. He left the university after his junior year and signed a three-year entry level deal with the Capitals and was assigned to Hershey for the season.

https://www.instagram.com/p/_OJk6Vo5OH/?taken-by=rileybarber11

This year was Barber’s first professional season. Overall, he had a very good season, scoring 26 goals and 29 assists in 74 games. On January 30, 2016, Barber had a hat trick against the Syracuse Crunch. As season began to move on into the playoffs, Barber did not perform as well. This may have been because the season with Hersey is significantly longer than what he has been used to in college.

After the first two rounds in the playoffs, Barber had only 1 goal and 1 assist, so he ended up as a healthy scratch to begin the series against the Toronto Marlies. Given that the Bears won that game, he was scratched for the next game, too. He made it back on the ice for Game 5 against the Marlies and had the primary assist for Nathan Walker’s game winning goal.

In personal memories of Barber, I had the pleasure of attending the Bears’ game where Barber had earned the hat trick. I also recall his first Development Camp, where his parents were sitting behind me during the Saturday prospect scrimmage and learned the Caps were really impressed with his play that week.

By Diane Doyle

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