Seattle Kraken Center and Mascot Encounter Brown Bear in Alaska

During a promotional shoot in June, John Hayden, a center for the Seattle Kraken, and their mascot, Bui, had a close encounter with a brown bear while filming in Alaska. The event took place at Katmai National Park, where they were engaged in fly fishing when the bears approached.

Accompanied by a guide who was on the lookout for bears, Hayden and Bui were on the shallow river when they noticed the wildlife nearby. As they fished, the bears took a few steps toward them before briefly stopping and then turning away. It seemed almost casual, perhaps. “I want to take responsibility for the buoy,” Hayden remarked later in the video, noting how curious the bears were about Bui’s expressions.

Brown bears are known for their fishing skills, particularly in the Brooks River, where they feast on salmon. The park, located about 300 miles southwest of Anchorage, also hosts the annual “Fat Bear Week,” celebrating the bears as they fatten up for winter.

“The bears are everywhere around Brooks Falls; it’s their domain,” said Melissa Oblochita, the marketing director for Kraken. She mentioned that, since the bears are accustomed to seeing humans, she didn’t feel frightened during the encounter.

Hayden and Bui were in Alaska as part of an initiative to promote youth ice hockey. This trip was organized by the Bristol Bay Native Corporation, highlighting the importance of hockey to communities in the region without an NHL team. The closest franchises are located in Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia.