Riley Barber receives national rookie of the month award

By Michael Caples – 

The Hockey Commissioners Association announced today that Livonia native and Miami RedHawks forward Riley Barber has been named their national rookie of the month after an outstanding October for the freshman.

Yesterday, Barber was named the Central Collegiate Hockey Association rookie of the month, as well.

Barber, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound forward, has totaled four goals and four assists in the same time frame. He’s a sixth-round pick of the Washington Capitals from last summer’s NHL Entry Draft. Barber scored his first collegiate goal on Oct. 13 against Colgate – a power-play marker – and scored on both nights of the RedHawks’ series with Providence on Oct. 19-20. Plus, he recorded a goal and an assist in the RedHawks’ road win over Michigan on Oct. 27. Barber is tied with teammate Austin Czarnik (also a Michigan native) for the scoring lead in the CCHA.

Prior to joining Miami, Barber played a season for the U.S. National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor. He recorded 11 points in 24 USHL games with the NTDP. In 2010-11, Barber skated for the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL, where he posted 28 points in 57 games. Barber grew up in the Compuware AAA organization, playing many years with fellow top NHL prospects Jacob Trouba (Winnipeg), Patrick Sieloff (Calgary), and Brady Vail (Montreal).