On Monday, Feb. 2, the Prudential Center looked nothing like a hockey arena. Instead, the space where the New Jersey Devils‘ ice typically lies was transformed into a professional curling rink, while the surrounding floor turned into a casino lounge with poker, roulette, blackjack and craps tables.
This was all for the fifth annual Devils “Sweep the Deck Gala”, the team’s signature fundraising event for the powerful Devils Youth Foundation. The foundation’s mission is to bring life-changing opportunities to New Jersey’s youth through the power of sports, entertainment and music.
Related: Guide to the 2026 Winter Olympics Men’s Hockey Tournament
It focuses on four grant categories: creating safe spaces, access to arts education, getting kids active and moving, and food and nutrition security. These are real issues in the state of New Jersey; one in eight kids doesn’t know when their next meal is coming, and New Jersey ranks 43rd nationally in youth physical activity.
Furthermore, the timing of this year’s gala added some extra meaning. It took place just a couple nights before seven members of the Devils’ roster headed to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy to fulfill a lifelong dream of competing for their countries on the world’s biggest stage.
Pretty cool signs the #NJDevils are auctioning off at Sweep the Deck.
Each Olympian signed their own. pic.twitter.com/1Ncru6puMO
— Daniel Amoia (@daniel_amoia) February 3, 2026
“Sweep the Deck” Is as Much Fun as Impactful
Allison Blitzer, Chair of the Devils Youth Foundation, captured that link: “As we sit here on the Eve of the Olympics, you want to feel like every kid should have the hope that they can do their best and fulfill whatever their dreams are. We all know there’s a lot of talent here in Jersey, so I want all the kids to have that opportunity.”
Moreover, the night was a rare opportunity for fans to connect on a personal level with their favorite Devils players. “It’s great [to connect with fans],” said captain Nico Hischier. “It’s great for them as well, to connect with us a little bit. Just ask some questions they’re probably not able to when watching our game,” he continued.
Star forward Jack Hughes agreed: “A ton of fans come and show up, people that usually watch you when you’re inside the glass. It’s a night tonight for us to kind of talk, and then we kind of know who you are, just a little bit of relationships. I think it’s fun for all parties,” said Hughes.
Most importantly of all: the event truly made a difference. The gala ultimately raised a record-breaking $2.25 million — and counting — for the Devils Youth Foundation.
“People are happy to be here,” added Hischier. “They’re all here for a great reason, and that makes you feel good, you know, trying to help kids. I think everybody in here is very fortunate enough in their life. Just giving back to community is really helpful for everybody, for them as well … It’s definitely my favorite event [of the year].”
This event isn’t a one-off; instead, it’s just the crème de la crème of many fun and impactful annual events that support the Devils Youth Foundation. Prior to the event, the foundation had already raised more than $4.6 million overall, supported over 100 nonprofits, and reached more than 260,000 youth and families across New Jersey. Among mentored youth, the high school graduation rate stands at 97 percent.
Kate Whitman Annis, Executive Director of the Devils Youth Foundation, talked about the buy-in from the entire organization: “Our entire team leans in. That’s from the players, to everyone who works in the building, to our ownership. You can see it tonight, it’s so much fun. It’s our original take on a gala, right? So it’s not the [traditional] sit down; you’re curling with the players, you’re playing cards with them, you’re interacting with them. It’s just a really fun, feel-good night.”
Whether it was Paul Cotter and Jonas Siegenthaler giving bartending a shot, Lenni Hameenaho and Evgenii Dadonov playing blackjack, Dawson Mercer and Connor Brown proving their Canadian dominance in Curling, or anything in between…the event was a prime example of how the Devils Youth Foundation can make a difference while having a blast.
“[My curling skills] are definitely not up there,” joked Hischier, who Jack coined as one of the best poker players.
Jake Reynolds, President of the New Jersey Devils, said, “[DYF] is part of who we are, and it’s our responsibility as stewards of this brand and the only professional sports team in New Jersey. We love the opportunity and the obligation that we have to continue to lift this community up.”
Devils Youth Foundation Making a Lasting Difference
The foundation’s successful strides towards making a difference have changed lives. In food and nutrition security, partners like the Greater Newark Conservancy reached about 8,000 children through youth and family education programs, while community fridges and fresh food distributions served tens of thousands more.
Under creating safe spaces, initiatives through Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Boys & Girls Club of Newark and others established over 1,000 mentoring relationships and provided tutoring, career prep and art therapy.
Getting kids active and moving includes expanded programming from Hockey in New Jersey, Special Olympics New Jersey and the Challenged Athletes Foundation. In arts and education, groups like Arts Ed Newark and New City Kids expanded creative programming for hundreds of students.
That’s not all, though; players stay involved all year through a range of initiatives. The Hughes brothers’ Pucks and Pages reading program, a multi-year reading program designed to promote literacy among New Jersey’s youth, is the most popular example.
Blitzer pointed out how seriously Jack and Luke Hughes have taken it: “Jack and Luke have really grabbed on to this program with their reading program, and they’re avid readers. I don’t know how much you know about them, but they actually fight over books, and their love of reading is amazing, and they really want to share that.”
Other previous and ongoing efforts include: Dougie Hamilton’s “Buddies” program, the Make-A-Wish initiative, the Devils Youth Foundation Scholarship Program, the Champions Gala, and Martin Brodeur’s “MB30” Charity Golf Invitational.
“All of our players all year long make DYF a priority all the time… all of our players always raise their hand about how they can help out. We’re pretty lucky about that,” added Blitzer.
Whitman Annis said the same about the team’s commitment, especially from star players like Hischier, Jack and Luke: “You see, like, a quarter of what they’re actually doing. They are actually out and skating with kids all the time, and they do it because they care about their community, they want a healthy community, and they want to do their part. And it’s really inspiring for us to see that. Like, I never feel like I’m bothering any of the players when I ask them.”
While the Sweep the Deck Gala is the big, visible celebration that raises significant money and brings people together, the real story is what the money and player involvement can help support when the lights shut off and everyone heads home. It’s truly inspiring.
