Pittsburgh Penguins forward Andrei Kuzmenko has returned to Russia before the start of the NHL season after his father was killed by a bear. The 30-year-old left the team ahead of training camp to be with his family.
Alexander Kuzmenko, the 62-year-old father of the player, was an ice hockey coach in Russia. He was on a fishing trip along the Krasnaya River in Southern Siberia with a group of seven others when a bear attacked from the trees. The attack left him with severe facial injuries.
A member of the fishing party called for an ambulance, but the dense forest made it difficult for emergency services to reach the area. Kuzmenko was taken by river downstream for four hours before being airlifted to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The Attack on the River
The setting was remote. The Krasnaya River runs through dense forest in Southern Siberia, far from any major settlement. The fishing party was a small group of eight people, and the terrain worked against them when the attack came.
The bear attacked from the trees, catching the group off guard. The injuries were severe enough that a member of the party called for help immediately. That call set off a chain of events that would eventually bring Andrei Kuzmenko back to his homeland.
Andrei’s Decision to Leave
Kuzmenko chose to be surrounded by his teammates and practiced with the team this morning before returning to Moscow to be with his family this afternoon. The team’s statement described the arrangement in measured terms, noting that the player had the full support of the Penguins organisation during this time.
The team’s president, Kyle Dubas, said the death had left the organisation deeply saddened. “Our deepest thoughts and sympathies are with the Kuzmenko family and their loved ones as they grieve the loss of Alexander,” the statement read. “We ask that the privacy of Andrei and the Kuzmenko family be respected at this time.”
Dubas also noted that Andrei had remained close to the team even as he prepared to return home. “Andrei chose to be surrounded by his team-mates and practice with the team this morning before returning to Moscow to be with his family this afternoon,” the statement continued. “Andrei and the Kuzmenko family have the full support of the Penguins organisation during this time.”
A Career Cut Short
The timing of the tragedy could not have been worse for Kuzmenko’s professional life. He signed a one-year contract with the Penguins this summer and is about to compete in his fifth season in the NHL.
His career has followed a familiar path across the league. He spent previous stints with the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers and Los Angeles Kings before joining Pittsburgh.
Now the season stands paused for him. The NHL begins on 29 September, and Kuzmenko will not be with the team as he grieves.
What the Team Said
The Penguins organisation has been quick to offer support. The team’s statement asked that the privacy of Andrei and his family be respected at this time.
Dubas’s words were careful and measured, offering condolences without overreaching. The team has also kept Kuzmenko connected to the group, allowing him to practice with his teammates before heading home.
The Bear Attack as Tragedy
The dense forest around the Krasnaya River made rescue difficult. The injuries were severe enough that Kuzmenko was unable to survive.
A Family’s Loss
The death of a parent is a profound blow for anyone. For a professional athlete, it comes at a moment when the demands of the season are already pressing down.
Kuzmenko’s decision to return to Moscow shows how deeply the loss affected him. He chose to be with his family rather than starting the season with the team.
The Season Ahead
The NHL season begins on 29 September. Kuzmenko will not be with the team as he grieves.
The team has offered full support to the Kuzmenko family during this time. That support includes respecting the family’s privacy and allowing Andrei to grieve in his own way.
Key Facts
- Alexander Kuzmenko, 62, was killed by a bear on a fishing trip along the Krasnaya River in Southern Siberia
- Andrei Kuzmenko, 30, is a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins
- The NHL season begins on 29 September
- Andrei signed a one-year contract with the Penguins this summer
- His previous NHL stints included the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers and Los Angeles Kings
Timeline of Events
- Alexander Kuzmenko was on a fishing trip along the Krasnaya River in Southern Siberia with a group of seven others.
- A bear attacked from the trees, causing severe facial injuries.
- A member of the fishing party called for an ambulance.
- Kuzmenko was taken by river downstream for four hours.
- He was airlifted to hospital and later pronounced dead.
- Andrei Kuzmenko returned to Russia before the start of the NHL season.
- The Penguins issued a statement of condolence.
The grief is real, and the story carries a weight that no amount of coverage can lift. Kuzmenko has lost his father, and the NHL has lost a player who was just beginning his fifth season. For now, Andrei Kuzmenko is in Moscow with his family. The team waits for him, and the season waits for him too.
Source material: “NHL's Kuzmenko returns to Russia after father killed by bear,” the BBC.
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