Andrei Kuzmenko Leaves Penguins Camp After Father's Death

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Andrei Kuzmenko left the team’s training camp to be with his family in Moscow after his father, Alexander Kuzmenko, died following a reported bear attack during a fishing trip in Russia. The team said Andrei practiced with his teammates before departing. The Penguins announced Alexander’s death and expressed condolences to the family. General manager Kyle Dubas said the organization would support Andrei and asked that the family’s privacy be respected. The team did not provide details about the circumstances of Alexander’s death in its statement. Russian reports identified Alexander, 62, as the person fatally injured in the attack. According to that account, he was fishing with companions in a remote area of Russia when a bear emerged from nearby woodland and attacked him. His companions drove the animal away, administered first aid and sought medical help. The group could not be reached by road, the reports said. They arranged to meet responders and traveled by water before Alexander was airlifted to a hospital, where he later died of his injuries. The account described severe facial injuries.