Andrey Kuzmenko is preparing to leave the Pittsburgh Penguins and return to Moscow following the death of his father, Aleksandr Kuzmenko.
Sixty-two-year-old Aleksandr Kuzmenko was attacked by a bear on September 22 in the Todzha District of Russia's Tuva Republic. The tourist suffered serious facial injuries and was transported by air ambulance to a republican hospital, but could not be saved.
Artysh Salchak, head of the Tuva State Committee for Hunting and Fisheries Oversight, said the seven-member group had traveled by boat along the Yenisei River and settled in a remote taiga area despite a ban on entering the forests.
The deceased was later identified as Andrey Kuzmenko's father, Aleksandr Kuzmenko.
Pittsburgh Penguins support the Kuzmenko family
Pittsburgh Penguins General Manager Kyle Dubas said the club stood by the Kuzmenko family. According to Dubas, Kuzmenko chose to spend time with his teammates and attend the morning practice before leaving for Moscow.
Kuzmenko joined the Pittsburgh Penguins as a free agent in July. The Russian player previously played for the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers and Los Angeles Kings. The 30-year-old forward has played 271 NHL games, recording 182 points with 85 goals and 97 assists.
Kuzmenko also played for Moscow-based CSKA and St. Petersburg club SKA in the Kontinental Hockey League.