Seattle Kraken Player Mascot Encounter Grizzly Bear Alaska

Seattle Kraken center John Hayden and the team mascot, Buoy, had a tense encounter with a grizzly bear while filming a fishing segment in Alaska's Katmai National Park. The bear approached and briefly charged at Buoy, whose troll-like blue costume seemed to attract the animal's attention, but ultimately the bear stopped and retreated without causing harm. The incident was captured on video and shared on social media, with Hayden noting that they got out of the situation safely despite the close call. Buoy is a troll mascot inspired by Seattle's Fremont Troll sculpture and is part of the Kraken's community outreach efforts, including partnerships like the one with Bristol Bay Native Corporation. Hayden, who recently signed a two-year extension with the Kraken, described the incident as a rare and memorable experience compared to his professional hockey encounters. The encounter underscores the territorial nature of grizzly bears, though attacks on humans remain rare.