Kuzmenko takes leave from Penguins after father dies on fishing trip

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Andrei Kuzmenko, 30, has taken a leave of absence from the team after his father, Alexander Kuzmenko, 62, was killed by a bear on Tuesday during a fishing trip in the Tuva Republic in southern Siberia. Alexander, a respected hockey coach in Russia, suffered fatal head injuries from the bear attack despite his six travel companions driving the animal away and airlifting him to a hospital in Kyzyl. Andrei practiced with the Penguins on Thursday before departing for Moscow, with general manager Kyle Dubas issuing a statement expressing the organization's condolences.