Pittsburgh Penguins Forward Andrei Kuzmenko Takes Leave After Father’s Death in Russia
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Andrei Kuzmenko has taken a leave of absence after his father was killed in a bear attack while on a fishing trip in Russia.
Springfield Holyoke, MA, September 28, 2026 — The Pittsburgh Penguins organization has confirmed that forward Andrei Kuzmenko has been granted a leave of absence from the team. The decision comes in the wake of a tragic incident in Russia where Kuzmenko’s father was killed.
According to the summary provided, Kuzmenko’s father died as a result of a bear attack. The incident reportedly occurred while he was on a fishing trip in Russia.
The specific date and location within Russia of the attack were not provided. Details regarding the circumstances of the bear encounter, the response by authorities, or any subsequent actions are also not detailed in the available information.
The duration of Kuzmenko’s leave of absence has not been disclosed. The Pittsburgh Penguins have not released further details regarding the player’s status or an estimated timeline for his return to the team.
Andrei Kuzmenko joined the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 2023-2024 season. Prior to his time with the Penguins, he played for other teams, including in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) before moving to the National Hockey League (NHL).
The team is expected to provide updates on Kuzmenko’s situation as they become available.
Story summarized from the original created by Zach Mentz on www.masslive.com, see more information here.
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