Riley Barber Making Smooth Transition Into Chocolate Town
Photo: Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey
Saturday night Bears rookie forward Riley Barber played his first professional hockey game with Hershey. For the 21-year-old, it will be a night he won’t soon forget. Two goals on three shots, including what would be the game winner in his first AHL goal in Hershey’s 5-1 win over Springfield.
“It was a good first game. Glad to start on the right foot,” Barber said at practice Monday. “My linemates really helped me out with a couple of those goals. It’s just nice to get a couple at the beginning. I feel like the team is rolling here.”
Those linemates are Jakub Vrana and Carter Camper. “It’s an honor to be playing with those guys, especially Camper. He’s a veteran in this league, has always shown he can put up points. For the coaches to believe I can play with him is awesome. I’m just trying to take advantage of it everyday.”
“The initial thought going into the season,” said Troy Mann, “was to actually play (Chandler) Stephenson (with Barber and Vrana) and have Camper up with (Chris) Bourque and whomever. Just looking at things in training camp down in Washington, Stephenson had played some time with Bourque and (Sean) Collins down there, I said ‘You know what, maybe it would be better a veteran type of player with those two rookies.’
“He’s got a good demeanor about him. I’ve really been impressed with Camper’s leadership, he was part of our leadership meeting when we met with the leaders of the team last week. I think he should be a good influence on them in terms of calming them down on the bench when they get into some trouble because, let’s face it, they are going to spend some time in the d-zone. It’s important they sort those out. It’ll be good for those two rookies to have a veteran presence there.”
Barber has spent the last three seasons at Miami (OH) University playing for the RedHawks. The jump from the college game has all been a mind game for him. “I think everything is mental. If you go into it acting like it’s going to be a big transition and it’s going to be really hard for you, it’s going to be. I just try and come to the rink everyday and play my best and not really think about the other stuff.”