express
Pittsburgh Penguins winger Andrei Kuzmenko has traveled back to Russia after receiving the devastating news that his father, Alexander, lost his life in a bear attack. The 30-year-old had practiced with the team on Thursday before departing for Moscow.
The fatal incident occurred on Tuesday while Alexander was on a fishing trip in the Tuva Republic, a region in southern Siberia. According to Ren.tv, the group had traveled by boat to a bank on the Bolshoy Yenisei River and set up camp. A bear then reportedly emerged from the nearby woods and attacked the group, biting Alexander in the face. He was transported by boat to a nearby village and then airlifted to a hospital, where he died from extensive tissue damage in the intensive care unit. Alexander was 62 years old and was fishing with six others at the time.
On Thursday, Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas released a statement expressing the organization's grief. "The Pittsburgh Penguins organization was deeply saddened this morning to learn of the passing of Andrei Kuzmenko's father, Alexander," Dubas said. "Our deepest thoughts and sympathies are with the Kuzmenko family and their loved ones as they grieve the loss of Alexander. We ask that the privacy of Andrei and the Kuzmenko family be respected at this time." Dubas added that Kuzmenko chose to be with his teammates and practice that morning before returning to Moscow in the afternoon to be with his family. He concluded, "Andrei and the Kuzmenko family have the full support of the Penguins organization during this time."
Penguins coach Dan Muse also offered his condolences. "Myself and the whole organization, just our deepest condolences on Andrei Kuzmenko and just the passing of his father," Muse said. "It's obviously just terrible news that we heard this morning. Kuzy wanted to skate with the team. He wanted to be with his teammates. That's why he was out there. He'll be traveling back to Russia. But yeah, just our deepest condolences, sympathies, deepest condolences for Andrei and his family."
Kuzmenko signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Penguins in July. Last season, he recorded 25 points (13 goals, 12 assists) in 52 games for the Los Angeles Kings before undergoing surgery in February to repair a torn meniscus in his knee.