Devils bond over scavenger hunt in Sweden ahead of opener against Oilers

GOTHENBURG, Sweden -- John Hynes is hoping lessons learned off the ice will help establish a stronger bond on the ice when the New Jersey Devils play the Edmonton Oilers as part of the 2018 NHL Global Series at Scandinavium on Saturday (1 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, MSG+, NHL.TV).

The Devils took a break from their routine on Thursday afternoon and split into teams to take part in "The 100 Point Challenge," an interactive race game that also provided an opportunity to learn more about the city of Gothenburg.
The Devils split into five groups of four players each, and one group with five players. Each team was required to race against the clock and each other to complete as many challenges as possible within a two-hour time limit with the maximum score being 100 points.

Dr. Aimee Kimball, Devils director of player and team development, organized the scavenger hunt after the team's practice at Scandinavium on Thursday.
"We choose the 100-point challenge because we wanted an activity where players would be forced to get out of their comfort zones to work together," Kimball said. "The fact that no one who has completed the scavenger hunt has ever earned all 100 points provided extra motivation for our very goal-driven players.
"Not only did they have to communicate with each other, but they had to communicate with the locals as well, since their only tool to help them navigate the city was an old school map."

The challenge began in front of the Gothenburg Central Station, and each group was given a tote bag, question sheet, map, and pens. The game the team chose was called 'Alicia's Adventure', which offered an introduction to Gothenburg, and enabled the players to compete while learning more about the culture and history of the city.

The team of forwards Nico Hischier,
Drew Stafford
and Miles Wood and backup goaltender Eddie Lack won.
Team 2 had Marcus Johansson, Mirco Mueller, Brian Boyle, Pavel Zacha and Jean-Sebastien Dea; Team 3 had Cory Schneider, Taylor Hall, Damon Severson and Sami Vatanen; Team 4 had Keith Kinkaid, Will Butcher, Travis Zajac and Andy Greene; Team 5 had Ben Lovejoy, Blake Coleman, Stefan Noesen and John Quenneville; Team 6 had Kyle Palmieri, Eric Gryba, MacKenzie Blackwood, and Steven Santini.
Kimball said the challenge, in addition to being a fun way to build comradery on a rainy afternoon in Gothenburg, emphasizes the important points Hynes and his staff have wanted to get across all training camp.
"Engaging in this reinforces a key message Coach Hynes has been delivering to players, which is find a way to be successful, and there are no excuses," Kimball said. "[Hynes] wants the players to embrace whatever challenge is being thrown at them, to compete with grit, and to use their strengths and those of their teammates to reach their goals."