Father of hockey player Andrei Kuzmenko killed in bear attack
25 september 2026 в 05:13
The father of NHL player Andrei Kuzmenko, Alexander Kuzmenko, died as a result of a bear attack while fishing on September 22, Russian media reports. He was 62 years old.
Alexander and a group of five people set up camp in a remote area of the Todzhinsky district of Russia when a brown bear emerged from the nearby forest and attacked him. According to one Russian news outlet, Alexander’s friends were able to drive the animal away and provide first aid, but the injuries were extremely serious, particularly to his face.
According to information from REN TV, Alexander had «severe facial tissue injuries». The tourists called for an ambulance and organized a meeting point at the tourist camp. Due to the lack of roads, access to the site was only possible by water, which took about four hours. When the group finally reached the rescuers, Alexander was evacuated to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries.
REN TV reported that this year, Russia has recorded a record number of bear attacks, resulting in at least 15 fatalities. The area where Alexander set up camp had previously been restricted from public access by Russian authorities due to high bear activity.
Andrei Kuzmenko, who is 30 years old, is currently preparing for his first NHL season with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Penguins president and general manager Kyle Dubas expressed condolences to the Kuzmenko family, noting that the organization is deeply saddened by Alexander’s death. Dubas added that Andrei decided to attend the morning practice with the team before returning to Moscow to be with his family.
Andrei signed a one-year contract with the Penguins in July and previously played in the NHL for the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers, and Los Angeles Kings. The social media accounts of the Kings also expressed support for the Kuzmenko family. The NHL regular season for the 2026−2027 year will begin for the Penguins on September 30 with an away game against the Flyers.
Alexander and a group of five people set up camp in a remote area of the Todzhinsky district of Russia when a brown bear emerged from the nearby forest and attacked him. According to one Russian news outlet, Alexander’s friends were able to drive the animal away and provide first aid, but the injuries were extremely serious, particularly to his face.
According to information from REN TV, Alexander had «severe facial tissue injuries». The tourists called for an ambulance and organized a meeting point at the tourist camp. Due to the lack of roads, access to the site was only possible by water, which took about four hours. When the group finally reached the rescuers, Alexander was evacuated to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries.
REN TV reported that this year, Russia has recorded a record number of bear attacks, resulting in at least 15 fatalities. The area where Alexander set up camp had previously been restricted from public access by Russian authorities due to high bear activity.
Andrei Kuzmenko, who is 30 years old, is currently preparing for his first NHL season with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Penguins president and general manager Kyle Dubas expressed condolences to the Kuzmenko family, noting that the organization is deeply saddened by Alexander’s death. Dubas added that Andrei decided to attend the morning practice with the team before returning to Moscow to be with his family.
Andrei signed a one-year contract with the Penguins in July and previously played in the NHL for the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers, and Los Angeles Kings. The social media accounts of the Kings also expressed support for the Kuzmenko family. The NHL regular season for the 2026−2027 year will begin for the Penguins on September 30 with an away game against the Flyers.
© Kolganov Andrey
