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Spotlight on Riley Barber

By Matt Trevor - USAHockey.com, 01/01/13, 9:15AM EST

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Team USA forward discusses the tournament, his teammates and NHL roots.

Height: 5-11
Weight: 194
NHL: WSH (2012, 6th rd., 167th)
Current Team:
Miami University
Hometown: Livonia, Mich.
(suburb of Detroit)


On the intensity of this tournament
It's been a blast, very exciting. I think as the tournament goes on the
games are only going to get even bigger. I think we started off the game
against Russia very well and we can build on it throughout the tournament.

On Team USA's chemistry
I've played with a lot of the guys on the team and a lot of us know each
other from different places, like the U.S. National Team Development
Program, and we've gelled together. I think we are heading in the right
direction.


On playing with Galchenyuk and Kuraly
We have a lot of speed. Galchenyuk has tremendous hands and a great,
quick shot. Sean and I definitely have some chemistry just because we see
each other every day at Miami, even though we don¹t play on the same line
there. They're both playing great right now so it¹s easy to play with
them.


On his path from Pittsburgh to Detroit ...
I moved from Pittsburgh to Detroit before my seventh grade year, mainly
for hockey. Vince Trocheck and I both went to play for Little Caesars. My
family followed and we still live in Michigan, but we return to Pittsburgh
a lot to see family.

On Team USA's Pittsburgh connections
I played with Vince Trocheck and J.T. Miller for years with the
Pittsburgh Hornets. We made it al the way to the national championship
game together one year. Gibson played a few seasons with us too.

On his dad, Don, who played in the NHL ...
He's been a huge influence since I¹ve been younger. He¹s always helped me
learn the game and the little things. It's awesome to have him as a
resource. He coached me from when I started until I moved to Detroit. He
also coached John Gibson, J.T. Miller and Vince Trocheck when we played on
the Pittsburgh Hornets.