Penguins' Kuzmenko Takes Leave After Father Dies on Fishing Trip

The Pittsburgh Penguins organization announced that forward Andrei Kuzmenko is taking a leave of absence following the death of his father, Alexander. According to Russian news outlet Ren.tv, the 62-year-old coach was killed by a bear during a fishing trip in the Tuva Republic on Tuesday after sustaining extensive tissue damage from being bitten in the head. Despite efforts by six other companions to drive the animal away and airlift Kuzmenko's body to a hospital in Kyzyl, he could not be saved before returning home.