Pittsburgh Penguins player’s father killed by bear during fishing trip in Russia

The team logo is part of the carpet in the locker room of the Pittsburgh Penguins at the new state-of-the-art practice facility for the NHL hockey team during a media tour at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, Friday, Aug. 14, 2015, in Cranberry Township, Pa. The facility gives the Penguins the ability to have a training, practice and medical facility all-in-one, allowing an injured athlete to receive centralized attention without having to go from one place to another. Public sports medicine treatment and athletic training will also be offered at the complex. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic) Keith Srakocic

A Pittsburgh Penguins player took a leave of absence after his father’s death.

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Forward Andrei Kuzmenko’s father, Alexander, was killed by a bear during a fishing trip in Siberia, according to an NHL correspondent, citing the Russian news outlet Ren.tv.

The Penguins say the younger Kuzmenko chose to be surrounded by his teammates following the tragedy.

He practiced with them Thursday morning before returning to Moscow to be with his family.

“Completely his choice there,” said Amanda Kessel, director of Minor League operations for the Penguins. “And I give him credit for getting out there and skating, maybe to take his mind off it. But definitely, from our side, it’s whatever he needs at this point.”

Penguins General Manager Kyle Dubas released this statement, reading in part:

“The Pittsburgh Penguins organization was deeply saddened, this morning, to learn of the passing of Andrei Kuzmenko’s father, Alexander. 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.”

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