Father of former Calgary Flame Andrei Kuzmenko killed in Russian bear attack

Alexander Kuzmenko, 62, a well-known hockey coach in Russia, was killed in a bear attack during a fishing trip in Tuva, southern Siberia, near the border with Mongolia on Wednesday. A bear emerged from nearby forest during the attack; ambulances were delayed in reaching the fishing group of seven people due to the dense forest.

Andrei Kuzmenko, Alexander's son and a former Calgary Flames forward, was notified of his father's death on Thursday. Andrei traded to the Flames during the 2023-24 season and recorded 40 points in 66 games across parts of two seasons with Calgary before being traded to Philadelphia in January 2025. In July, he signed a one-year, $5-million deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Penguins confirmed Thursday that Andrei stepped away from the team following his father's death. He had practiced with Pittsburgh that morning before returning to Moscow to be with family. Kyle Dubas, the Penguins' president and general manager, released a statement: "Our deepest thoughts and sympathies are with the Kuzmenko family and their loved ones as they grieve the loss of Alexander. We ask that the privacy of Andrei and the Kuzmenko family be respected at this time."

Amanda Kessel, director of the Penguins' minor league operations and assistant general manager of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, added: "However long it takes, we'll do what we can to support him. But obviously very tragic, and the organization will be behind him and his family." The organization is giving Andrei as much time as needed with his family.