Yeah, Buoy!
There's a new mascot on the scene: a blue sea troll with long hair, an earring, and a removable tooth. The Seattle Kraken unveiled the newest member of the team - and the first mascot in franchise history - before their preseason game against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.
Buoy bravely (and bizarrely) descended from the rafters of Climate Pledge Arena for his big reveal while showing off a few of his dance moves.
Meet Buoy!!! #FremontTroll #SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/xmW4u2qZdG
— Alison (@AlisonL) October 2, 2022
Twitter was unsurprisingly perplexed by Buoy. Here are some of the best reactions:
Buoy???? You had ALL the sea creature options in the world and you pick a TROLL????
— robert 🏳️🌈 (@rs_molloy) October 2, 2022
Seen a lot of Buoy takes tonight. Here's one from a youth hockey player from the intermission shootout: "I don't like it." pic.twitter.com/7ErYBhWaO3
— Emerald City Hockey (@EmeraldCityHky) October 2, 2022
why are we hating on buoy when it looks like every teenage hockey player trying to grow a mullet it’s representation pic.twitter.com/5QUlNgKGFo
— sasha (formerly formerly the nordiques) (@goalietaps) October 2, 2022
the seattle kraken in the studio cookin up their mascot pic.twitter.com/Gp9QpLslyj
— Ava (@avatarrant) October 2, 2022
Disappointed that the Seattle Kraken’s mascot isn’t Brandon Tanev’s ghost friend
— Hockey Players With Animals (And Other Chaos) (@animalsofhockey) October 2, 2022
Buoy the Troll looks like they’d bully you in 4th Grade pic.twitter.com/uxfpjimG8o
— Nathan “Grav" (@NathanGraviteh) October 2, 2022
Just what hockey twitter needs, another troll. https://t.co/5XQjDyo9rf
— Ian McLaren (@iancmclaren) October 2, 2022
happy spooky season from my new sleep paralysis demon https://t.co/43tHL9Qp6l
— el (@tensevowel) October 2, 2022
therapist: Buoy the Troll can’t hurt you
— alyssa (@alyssaturnz) October 2, 2022
Buoy the Troll: pic.twitter.com/k61H0PkFSq
Seattle Kraken: we want an innovate new mascot who represents our team and city
— Hockey Players With Animals (And Other Chaos) (@animalsofhockey) October 2, 2022
Tired designer who stayed up all night watching Frozen with their kids: I have just the thing pic.twitter.com/fa7nbuXi15
does grubi look terrified or am I projecting https://t.co/AMDoHsPEsj
— puljucommie 🦬 👑 (@peteys4head) October 2, 2022
To be honest, ya Buoy wouldn’t have been my first choice and on first glance, I’m not a fan of the style, but remember, gritty was universally disliked when he debuted, and now he is one of the most beloved mascots in all of sports. Give Buoy time to build a personality.
— Seattle Kraken Countdown (@KrakenCountdown) October 2, 2022
Of course, other mascots got in on the fun as well, with varying results:
don’t tempt me with a good time
— Gritty (@GrittyNHL) October 2, 2022
Don’t worry bud… I’m pretty sure they are just chanting your name. 😏#MascotShade
— Chance (@ChanceNHL) October 2, 2022
Welcome to the league. 😉 https://t.co/lkCy769ttr
Buoy is inspired by the Fremont Troll, a sculpture beneath a bridge in Seattle that has been a landmark of the city for 32 years.
The Kraken beat the Canucks 4-0 in their first game with Buoy in the mix, so maybe the troll is a good luck charm after all.
