Alexander Kuzmenko, the father of Pittsburgh Penguins forward Andrei Kuzmenko and a longtime hockey coach, has died after a bear attacked him during a fishing trip in Russiaâs Tuva Republic. He was 62.
The attack took place near the Bolshoy Yenisey River in the remote Todzhinsky district, according to RTVI. Kuzmenkoâs companions drove the animal away and helped him. He was taken to a hospital in Kyzyl, the regional capital, but doctors could not save him.
Reports differ on the precise date of the attack. RBC reported September 23, while other accounts place it on September 22. Authorities have not publicly resolved that discrepancy.
Investigators examine the circumstances
Russiaâs Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case following Kuzmenkoâs death, its Tuva office said, according to Moscow 24. Investigators are working to establish what happened. The announcement does not, by itself, indicate that anyone has been accused of a crime.
Tuvaâs hunting authorities said the fishing group had entered the area despite restrictions imposed after repeated reports of bears approaching people. Artysh Salchak, head of the regional hunting oversight agency, said outdoor activities were prohibited and a heightened readiness regime had been introduced in 11 municipalities, Moscow 24 reported.
Salchak said specialists were searching for the animal. âA bear that has attacked a person even once is dangerous,â he told TASS, as reported by Championat. Investigators have not yet published a complete account of the groupâs route or the moments leading up to the attack.
A coach who introduced his son to hockey
Alexander Kuzmenko taught Andrei to skate as a child and later coached him at Moscowâs Belye Medvedi hockey school. His other pupils included Nikita Korostelev and Daniil Grigoryev.
The Russian Ice Hockey Federation expressed condolences to Andrei and his family. It called Alexanderâs death âa heavy loss for the Russian hockey communityâ and said he had coached for 29 years.
Korostelev said Alexander had made him and hundreds of other children fall in love with hockey. âMy thoughts are with Andrei and the whole Kuzmenko family,â he said in comments reported by Championat, citing Gazeta.Ru.
Roman Rotenberg, a vice-president of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation, described Alexander as a devoted coach and father. âAndrei, stay strong. We are here,â he wrote in a Telegram statement reported by Championat.
Andrei joined Pittsburgh ahead of the 2026â27 NHL season. The Penguins announced his one-year signing in July, following NHL spells with Vancouver, Calgary, Philadelphia and Los Angeles. As of September 24, no public statement from Andrei or the Penguins addressing his fatherâs death had been verified.
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