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According to several press accounts, the father of Andrei Kuzmenko, who previously played forward for the Calgary Flames, lost his life in a bear attack on Wednesday while fishing in Russia.
The 62-year-old Alexander Kuzmenko was a highly regarded ice hockey trainer in his home country. Reports indicate he was part of a seven-person fishing party in Tuva, a region in southern Siberia situated close to the Mongolian border.
The incident was initially reported on Wednesday by the Russian television station REN TV. Other major media companies, such as The Athletic, The Guardian, and Sportsnet, have subsequently verified and covered the tragedy.
The reports state that a bear stepped out from the surrounding woods and targeted Kuzmenko. Because of the thick wilderness, emergency medical personnel were delayed in reaching the scene of the incident.
During the 2023-24 campaign, Andrei Kuzmenko was sent to the Flames via trade. In his stint with Calgary, he accumulated 40 points over 66 appearances spanning portions of two seasons, prior to being dealt to Philadelphia in January 2025.
Last July, the winger secured a one-year contract valued at $5 million with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
On Thursday, the Penguins released a statement confirming that Kuzmenko had taken a temporary leave of absence from the squad following his father’s passing.
“We extend our most sincere condolences and prayers to the Kuzmenko family during this incredibly difficult time as they mourn Alexander. At this juncture, we kindly request that everyone respect the privacy of Andrei and his relatives,” stated Kyle Dubas, the president and general manager of the Penguins.
According to Dubas, Kuzmenko participated in the team’s morning skate on Thursday before catching a flight back to Moscow to join his family.
Amanda Kessel, who serves as the Penguins’ director of minor league operations and assistant general manager for their AHL partner, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, emphasized in the announcement that the franchise will allow Kuzmenko all the time necessary to be with his relatives.
“We are committed to helping him in any way possible, regardless of the timeframe. This is an immense tragedy, and our entire franchise stands firmly behind him and his family,” Kessel remarked.
