Penguins Player Andrei Kuzmenko Takes Leave After Father’s Death in Bear Incident
Pittsburgh Penguins player Andrei Kuzmenko has taken a leave of absence after his father was killed by a bear.
Wichita Hutchinson Plus, KS, September 24, 2026 —
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Andrei Kuzmenko has stepped away from the team to take a leave of absence. The decision follows the tragic death of his father, who was killed by a bear.
The team has confirmed Kuzmenko’s absence but has not provided specific details regarding the timeline of his leave or his return to the team. The organization has stated its support for Kuzmenko and his family during this difficult period. Further information regarding the incident involving his father has not been disclosed publicly.
Kuzmenko, 28, joined the Pittsburgh Penguins earlier this year. He has played for several teams in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) before coming to the NHL. His father’s passing marks a significant personal tragedy for the player, prompting his temporary departure from professional hockey.
The circumstances surrounding the bear encounter are not detailed in the information available. Details regarding the location or the specific species of bear involved were not provided. The absence of further details is understandable given the sensitive and personal nature of the event.
The Penguins are scheduled to play their next game on [Date of next game – not provided in summary]. The team has not commented on how Kuzmenko’s absence will impact their roster for upcoming games. The focus for the team and its management is reportedly on supporting their player through this personal loss.
Story summarized from the original created by Rian Bossler on www.ksn.com, see more information here.
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