Besides bonding, the Capitals also got some real-world law-enforcement training at the academy.
"The actual part of going there and looking at the facilities and doing the training and stuff was fun, but the thing that I really enjoy is talking to those guys and getting a little look into their life," Capitals forward Tom Wilson said. "It's such a crazy kind of world that they live in and deal with, so that can be pretty cool."
While some of the Capitals were trying to break down doors, forwards Nicklas Backstrom and Andre Burakovsky engaged in some hand-to-hand combat.
Instagram from @capitals: combat Nicky v Burkie#ALLCAPS
One of the activities required the players to work together to clear a room of hostiles in a hostage situation. That required some to take on the role of the perpetrators. Trotz had a bruise on his left wrist from being shot by a paint pellet, which he suspected came from defenseman Brooks Orpik.
"I was a bad guy," Capitals coach Barry Trotz said. "I figured that was probably the right role for me. You know your role. I thought I would have killed a couple guys. I thought I had a good plan, but I missed a couple guys."
Trotz added that it was good to get out and do something different with the team.
"Those things for me are always great because we get so caught up sometimes in X's and O's and wins and losses and we're just entertainers and we forget about what's important is the people," Trotz said. "When you get to do something as a group I think it does have a good effect on your team and relationships and stuff like that."
