Bearly Escaping: Buoy the Kraken Mascot’s Unforgettable Fishing Trip!

It’s not every day you hear that a hockey mascot encountered a bear, but that’s exactly what happened to Buoy, the Seattle Kraken mascot, during a recent fishing trip in Alaska’s Katmai National Park. On June 25, Buoy and a few friends, including Kraken forward John Hayden, were enjoying some fly-fishing as part of a community outing when things took an unexpected turn. Imagine the surprise on their faces when a brown bear suddenly charged toward them! Talk about putting the “wild” in wildlife!

In a heart-pounding moment captured on video, Buoy and the group didn’t need a referee to tell them to take a penalty shot for fleeing the scene. They scrambled away faster than you could say “hockey puck.” Thankfully, no one got hurt, and the bear decided to leave the water sport to the humans, heading off on its own, presumably to find a less crowded fishing hole.

This close encounter serves as a reminder that nature doesn’t care if you’re a mascot or a pro athlete. One moment you’re casting your line, and the next, you’re dodging a bear like you’re in a cartoon! So, the big question is: Would you stick to fishing after that experience, or would you simply hang up the waders?

Let’s just hope the only bears Buoy wants to see in the future are on his team!

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