NHL mascots did much more than entertain a packed house at Kraken Community Iceplex last Thursday. As you can see from the above photo, the admission fee translated into a $3,200 donation to the Seattle Kraken’s charitable One Roof Foundation. (Although I’m not sure how they plan to fit that check into the tube at the bank drive-through window.)
The woman to the left of Buoy in the above photo is Hailey Robinson, officially a Kraken entertainment experience assistant – and unofficially, “Buoy’s Bestie.” Wherever the Kraken troll pops up at Climate Pledge Arena or area events, Hailey is likely to be alongside. Since Buoy doesn’t talk – he communicates through gestures and squeaking his nose – we posed mascot-related questions to Ms. Robinson. (She claims to speaks “troll,” so she can translate.)
Glenn: How did you end up joining the Kraken?
Hailey: I actually went to school for playwriting and acting. When I was a senior in college, there was a job listing for an assistant to a mascot, and I kind of applied on a whim, just looking for something to transition me out of college into the real world.
Glenn: So you consider this the real world?
Hailey: I mean, hard to call it the real world when I’m hanging out with a troll every day. It doesn’t get much better than that. I’ve absolutely fallen in love with working in sports.
Glenn Dreyfuss video screengrab.
Glenn: What did we just watch out here?
Hailey: Mascots like to see each other during the off season. They try to go to a different city to do appearances every summer. In partnership with Upper Deck, the NHL mascots were able to come together for what we’re calling the the Mascot Summer Showdown, which is a youth hockey tournament paired with a mascot hockey tournament, culminating in a kids versus mascots game.
Glenn: Tell me about the youth teams that participated.
Hailey: We had eight-year-olds and 10-year-olds. All of them come from our junior Kraken teams, on a volunteer basis. The coaches were able to split up the teams and say, this is who should be on this team, this is who should be on that one. We had both girls and boys out there. It’s an exciting time for women’s hockey, and we want to make sure those those girls are getting a chance to play.
Glenn Dreyfuss video screengrab.
Glenn: What are the logistics of getting mascots here to Seattle from all over North America? Those heads, those outfits, they can’t just go in the overhead bin.
Hailey: I don’t know what you’re talking about. That’s a real troll (Buoy), a real pig (Stormy, Carolina), real alien (Victor E. Green, Dallas), real… whatever Gritty is, real Gritty (Philadelphia).
Glenn: Did you touch him? Is Gritty actually gritty?
Hailey: He’s pretty soft for someone named Gritty.
Glenn: I can’t imagine the kind of shape you have to be in, to skate back and forth inside a costume where the airflow can’t be all that good. I mean, we’ve got all shapes and sizes out there.
Hailey: it’s pretty impressive to see, you know, a bird skate. We’ve got a few birds out there and a few bugs out there, you don’t see that every day.
Glenn: Have you ever thought about being a mascot?
Hailey: I’m a human. They’re usually not looking for humans to take on that role.
Glenn Dreyfuss video screengrab.
Glenn: Are the fans at Climate Pledge Arena pretty in tune with what you and Buoy are doing during a game, and that you need to get from point A to point B?
Hailey: Most of the time. Sometimes it’s tough, because Buoy’s schedule can change on a dime. I’ve got a headset on. They’re telling me where they need Bowie, and, you know, eyes on the clock and listening for those whistles. Our fans are pretty aware of what needs to happen, but sometimes I gotta move Buoy quickly and suddenly, and then it’s a little hard. Part of my job is to make sure that he is staying safe.
Glenn: After this event, do the mascots all just disperse? Do they go out for a wild night of partying?
Hailey: I will actually need to check in with them on that.