Russian Reports Indicate Andrei Kuzmenko's Father Tragically Killed in Bear Attack

Russian media reported that Andrei Kuzmenko of the Pittsburgh Penguins suffered a fatal loss after his father, Alexander Kuzmenko, was killed in a bear attack in Southern Siberia. The reports, backed by law enforcement, say Alexander, 62, was fishing on the Bolshoy Yenisei River in the Tuva Republic when a bear emerged from nearby woods. He sustained fatal head injuries, including bites. After his six companions drove the bear away, they took him to a nearby settlement where he was airlifted to Kyzyl hospital, but doctors were unable to save him. The day before the attack, officials placed a ban citing increased bear activity, and Russian media said 15 people have recently died in similar incidents. Andrei Kuzmenko signed with Pittsburgh on July 1 on a one-year, $5 million deal.