Close Encounter with a Brown Bear

Seattle Kraken center John Hayden and the team’s mascot, Buoy, experienced an unexpected encounter with a brown bear during a promotional video shoot in Alaska. The incident occurred in June while they were on a fly-fishing trip in Katmai National Park. Accompanied by a guide, Hayden and Buoy were fishing in the park’s shallow river when the bear approached them. The guide quickly directed the crew to wade through the water to maintain a safe distance.

Bear Charges Before Retreating

As the group moved away, the bear initially continued to approach but then charged through the water for a few paces before stopping and turning away. This brief charge added an element of excitement and tension to the shoot. Hayden humorously remarked afterward, “I want to blame it on Buoy,” suggesting that the bear might have been intrigued by the mascot’s appearance.

Katmai National Park: A Bear Haven

Katmai National Park is renowned for its brown bears, particularly during salmon spawning season at Brooks Falls. The park is located nearly 300 miles southwest of Anchorage and is only accessible by air or water. It hosts the annual “Fat Bear Week” contest, celebrating bears as they prepare for winter hibernation. Melissa O’Brochta, Kraken Partnership Marketing Director, recorded the encounter from shore and noted that bears are accustomed to human presence in this area.

Promoting Youth Ice Hockey in Alaska

The trip was part of an annual event organized by the Bristol Bay Native Corporation in Anchorage, aimed at promoting youth ice hockey. Although Alaska lacks its own NHL team, nearby teams include the Seattle Kraken and Vancouver Canucks. This initiative helps foster interest in ice hockey among Alaskan youth.