Cody Glass was standing in a familiar spot, but on Monday night, the building where he clocks in for his version of a 9-5 had completely transformed.
Hockey nets were replaced by rows of roulette, blackjack, and craps tables. Skates and sticks were swapped out for curling shoes and brooms. The bright lights of Prudential Center were dimmed, casting a warm glow for the New Jersey Devils' annual Sweep the Deck Gala, which perfectly complemented the jazz music that softly filled the main rink.
The gala benefits the Devils Youth Foundation, which has contributed over $4 million in philanthropic and programmatic support to dozens of non-profit organizations across New Jersey and New York.
While the event began in 2020, this was the first for Glass, who began his night bartending and ended it surrounded by his teammates as they shared laughs and lighthearted moments before their mindset and focus shifts to their upcoming schedule, which includes two division games.
Photo Courtesy: New Jersey Devils “What can I help you with?”
Glass stood behind the bar with his teammate, Stefan Noesen, to his left, and an employed bartender to his right, making and serving drinks to event attendees.
Wearing his “Sweep the Deck” Devils Youth Foundation scarf and signature smile, Glass confidently topped a club soda with a lemon and effortlessly made a vodka cranberry as the line continued to move. It wasn’t until a gentleman stepped up to the bar requesting a margarita that Glass’s bartending skills were truly tested.
With help from the seasoned pro to his right, he successfully made the three-ingredient cocktail. Before departing the bar, he gave the veteran bartender a hug, thanking her for the multiple assists she provided on his first shift of the evening.
“I think I need to keep that in the past,” Glass shared of his short stint as a mixologist. “I think I did a terrible job. People were too nice to me. I think they would have been (more critical) if it were (a real bartender) back there.”
The 6-foot-3 forward made his way to the other side of the rink, passing tables lined with memorabilia ranging from jewelry to signed sports jerseys to be auctioned later that evening. Every few feet, Glass heard his name called or saw an outstretched hand. Whether the interaction ended with an autograph or selfie, every conversation began the same with, “Hi, I’m Cody. Nice to meet you.”
Eventually, he, along with Noesen, made their way over to curling. While neither participated, it offered Glass an opportunity to have a more meaningful conversation with fans than he would at an autograph signing. Whether he was gracious as he was complimented on his play or beaming as a new dad speaking about his daughter, Charlotte, he ensured no fan felt rushed during their interactions.
For those wondering, Glass has previous experience with curling.
“I'm terrible,” he said. “It is actually way harder than it looks.”
When Glass played with the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League (AHL), he explained that on days off in Winnipeg, the team would go curling. As he shared this little tidbit, defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic walked by and added that when he played for the Manitoba Moose, the Winnipeg Jets AHL affiliate they also curled in their spare time.
Around 7:30 p.m., Glass and his teammates gathered towards the stage for the silent auction and speech by Allison Blitzer, Chair of the Devils Youth Foundation. It was the first time the group had been together since entering the gala, and Glass immediately swung his arm around his teammate, Colton White, as they laughed, took a (semi) team selfie courtesy of Brenden Dillon, before walking on stage to the sound of applause.
Photo Courtesy: New Jersey Devils Glass concluded his night on the main rink with one final shift at the card tables. In between rounds of roulette with Juho Lammikko, Evgenii Dadonov, and Timo Meier, during which he lost on 12, he recorded a happy-birthday video message and Face-timed with a three-year-old boy before settling in at a blackjack table surrounded by Devils fans.
Between 8:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., Glass and his teammates made their way to the VIP areas to cap off their fundraiser. In the dimly lit Prudential Lounge, music rang out from a small live band as Glass was approached by fans for one final request: to make an appearance in a TikTok video.
With the same smile he wore all night, Glass obliged before rejoining his teammates at a table on the opposite side of the lounge.
After three shifts on the main rink and one quick overtime in the lounge, Glass completed his first Sweep the Deck Gala and headed home to his wife Bailey and baby Charlotte.
“It was great,” he said. “I think these things are great, not only for us, but also for the fans. To have some face-to-face time. You know, they are huge supporters of us, so to be able to be here with them means a lot.
“There is a lot to do,” he continued. “I think there’s more to be interactive with. There is curling, poker, all this kind of stuff, where you can bond and not just stand around and talk. It is good to get some competitiveness with everybody in here. That’s just a hockey atmosphere.”
Speaking of that competitiveness, how did Glass do at the blackjack table?
“Wasn't my money,” he said with a smile. “I did great.”
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