Kraken In-Game Entertainment Fully In-Sync  | Seattle Kraken

Organist Benny Drawbars – who replaced Rod Masters of “Slap Shot” move fame after the team’s first season – returns for a third campaign playing his digital version of a Hammond SK-X Pro organ from a platform in the stands. And mascot Buoy – a sea troll now also in his third season — will again be roaming the arena posing for photos and causing minor mischief.

All of those returnees have undergone some degree of polish and refinement since their debut.

“We always want to keep evolving,” Buford said. “And keep kind of pushing innovation. So, we’ll always try new things here or there.”

Even the “Hoist the Colors” segment – inspired by the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie and the 12th man flag raising at Seahawks games — is far different from its humble origins two years ago.

Featured at the tail end of the second intermission, with music from Seattle-based EDM band ODESZA, the segment initially saw two banners raised at opposite sides of the rink near center ice. It drew a tepid crowd response on the first two tries.

“I remember being up in the booth and (Kraken play-by-play broadcaster) John Forslund is right beside me saying ‘I can’t see the ice!’ because we couldn’t pull them up fast enough,” music director Hatch said with a chuckle.

The Kraken changed the format and allowed a banner to be passed among fans in the lower bowl. For the spring 2023 playoffs, a second banner was added on the bowl’s opposite side. The segment is now one of the more popular in-game features.

Hatch said the arena music he supervises has also undergone changes to avoid “audio fatigue” of fans tiring of styles and songs. He’s shifted from a heavy emphasis on EDM in the initial season to more funk, pop, and heavy metal music and has a better feel for which songs fans will sing along to.

But some music remains the same as when the team debuted.

The song “Yeti, Set, Go” by the local band Polyrhythmics is still played at the end of every period. As is the “Let’s Go Kraken!” goal song whenever the team scores – with Hatch and his wife two of the five vocalists singing the modified lyric from the original Lithium song by Nirvana.

As with the overall in-game production, it’s been a learning process.

“We do have traditions, which is great,” Hatch said. “I mean, let’s face it, year 1, year 2, and to some extent, every game, it can be a little nerve-wracking to kind of sit up in my seat and watch it all unfold.

“But I’m much more comfortable now. We know our fans, know the flow of the game more after five years.”