Seattle Kraken’s mascot Buoy is a troll, but it was the victim of some real-life wildlife shenanigans during a recent video shoot in Alaska when it and the film crew got a little too close to wild grizzly bear.
What happened, and why were they there?
The Kraken crew was on location in Alaska along with team forward Josh Hayden to shoot a promotional video for youth hockey, according to The Associated Press. It involved them fly fishing in Katmai National Park, a vast preserve located on the Alaskan Peninsula in southern Alaska.
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According to video released by the team, Buoy and Hayden were in fishing waders getting ready to shoot when the bear approached. It charged the group, but turned away before making contact with anyone. The crew quickly waded back to shore, evading any further encounter.
“Bears are everywhere at Brooks Falls and, like, this is their territory,” said Kraken Partnership Marketing Director Melissa O’Brochta,. “They’re also super used to seeing humans. So I wasn’t scared.”
Related: 20-Foot Whale Nearly Capsizes Boat in Deadly Collision Caught on Camera
But Hayden had a different idea.
“I want to blame it on Buoy,” he said. “They were pretty interested in his look.”
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What is Katmai National Park famous for?
Katmai National Park is known for its massive population of grizzly bears, with over 2,200 calling the park home according to its website. Katmai is home to the viral Fat Bear Week competition each year. “As many bear populations around the world decline, Katmai provides some of the few remaining unaltered habitats for these amazing creatures,” the parks website states. “At Katmai, scientists are able to study bears in their natural habitat, visitors are able to enjoy unparalleled viewing opportunities, and the bears are able to continue their life cycle largely undisturbed.”
Well, until a troll shows up at their front door that is.
NHL Mascot, Player Charged by Wild Bear During National Park Video Shoot first appeared on Men’s Journal on Aug 6, 2025