Kraken and his pet Buoy, almost attacked by a bear in Alaska!

John Hayden and the Kraken Mascot Had a Close Encounter with a Bear in Alaska

Seattle Kraken forward John Hayden and the team’s mascot, Buoy, experienced a moment of tension during the filming of a promotional video in Alaska. The incident involved a brown bear in Katmai National Park. The encounter occurred during a fly fishing excursion, as part of a trip to promote youth hockey. The video, published by the team, shows the moment the bear approached Hayden and the mascot.

Hayden and Buoy were in a shallow river, equipped with waders and other fishing gear. While Hayden was fishing, a guide quickly took his rod. The bear, which approached the pet splashing water, finally veered off before making contact. Hayden, Buoy, and the film crew returned to the shore. Katmai National Park is known for its brown bears, which feed on salmon in the Brooks River. The park, located nearly 300 miles southwest of Anchorage, is the setting for the annual “Fat Bear Week” contest. The NHL team clarified that they did not intend to involve the bear in the filming, but included the encounter in a video posted on social media. The organizers had guides to ensure safety.

“Bears are everywhere in Brooks Falls and, this is their territory,” stated Melissa O’Brochta, Director of Marketing Partnerships for the Kraken, who recorded the encounter from the shore. “They are also very used to seeing humans. So I wasn’t scared.”

Melissa O’Brochta

Hayden joked after the incident, saying: “I want to blame Buoy. They were very interested in his appearance.” The incident occurred on June 25th, as part of an annual trip organized by the Bristol Bay Native Corporation in Anchorage, Alaska, with events promoting youth ice hockey. Alaska does not have its own NHL team; the closest teams are in Seattle and Vancouver, Canada.