Miami University’s Riley Barber headlines a list of Caps prospects at the NCAA Tournament (Photo credit: Rachel Lewis / Triple Deke Photography)

Washington Capitals prospects have been no strangers to the NCAA hockey tournament recently. A year ago, four of them (including then-UFA Cameron Schilling) made it to regionals. This year’s tournament includes six Caps prospects.

Regionals will be held in Toledo, OH; Providence, RI; Grand Rapids, MI; and Manchester, NH. The winners of the tournaments will face each other in Pittsburgh on April 11-13.

Grab yourself a bracket and let’s learn about our competing Caps prospects.

Riley Barber, RW, Miami University

Strong and skilled, Barber has made a statement in his freshman year. One of the biggest surprises for the Caps organization this year, Barber has built tremendous chemistry with fellow Michigander Austin Czarnik on the RedHawk’s first line.

Barber is among an impressive group of players who have won CCHA Rookie of the Year honors. He is the last name on a list that starts with George McPhee and includes Max Pacioretty, Brendan Morrison, and Rod Brind’Amour.

The RedHawks will face Minnesota State at 5 PM Eastern on Saturday.

Patrick Wey, D, Boston College

The big, rugged, stay-at-home defenseman Wey contributes to his team more than his statline suggests. As Wey completes his NCAA career, he has a chance to win his third national tournament. The Pittsburgh native usually plays on the right side of the Eagles’ first pairing, next to Teddy Doherty.

Wey’s outstanding defensive play this spring earned him Hockey East’s Defensive Defenseman of the Year title.

The Eagles start their road to the NCAA title on Saturday at 9 PM against Union.

Thomas DiPauli, RW, University of Notre Dame

DiPauli has been eased into NCAA action by the Notre Dame coaching staff. As the end of the season neared, DiPauli’s role increased and his production improved dramatically. A two-way forward, the Italy native has a chance to make a name for himself in the tournament. Thomas’ older brother, Theo, is playing for Union. They could play one another in the Frozen Four.

Notre Dame will begin the tournament at 1:30 PM ET on Saturday.

Travis Boyd, C, University of Minnesota

Boyd has mostly been a bottom-6 player on a stacked Gophers squad. It’s difficult to get more than that when Erik Haula and Nick Bjugstad are ahead of you on the depth chart. Boyd is a solid penalty killer and plays a balanced, two-way game.

The Gophers will face Yale on Friday at 2 PM.

Austin Wuthrich, RW/LW, University of Notre Dame

Just like DiPauli, Wuthrich has been up and down the lineup all season. Wuthrich had a tough second half and missed a considerable amount of time due to a head injury. Wuthrich was back on the Fighting Irish’s first line again during the CCHA Tournament, where he scored the tournament-winning goal and was named to the All-Star Team.

Greg Burke, RW/LW, University of New Hampshire

Burke is not expected to play this weekend due to a concussion. His NCAA career has been injury-filled: during four seasons with the Wildcats, Burke has been limited to 97 games. When he is healthy, however, he is an important player for his team.

UNH will battle Denver on Friday at 8 PM.

All games will be on ESPN3 in the US and ESPN Player outside North America . Most will also be available on ESPNU.