Pittsburgh Penguins forward Andrei Kuzmenko has returned to Russia ahead of the start of the NHL season after his father, Alexander Kuzmenko, was killed in a bear attack. Alexander, a 62-year-old ice hockey coach from Russia, was on a fishing trip along the Krasnaya River in Southern Siberia with a group of seven others when a bear attacked from the trees. He suffered severe facial injuries in the incident. Although a member of the group called for an ambulance, the dense forest made it difficult for emergency services to reach the area. Alexander was transported by river downstream for four hours before being airlifted to the hospital, where he later died. Penguins president Kyle Dubas expressed the team's sorrow over the tragedy. "Our deepest thoughts and sympathies are with the Kuzmenko family and their loved ones as they grieve the loss of Alexander," the team said in a statement. They also asked for privacy for Andrei and his family during this difficult time. Despite the tragedy, Andrei chose to be with his teammates and practiced with the team earlier in the day before returning to Moscow to be with his family. The Penguins organization has pledged its full support to Andrei and his family during this period. Andrei Kuzmenko, 30, signed a one-year contract with the Penguins this summer and is about to begin his fifth season in the NHL. He has previously played for the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers, and Los Angeles Kings. His return to Russia comes as the NHL season is set to begin on 29 September. The incident has cast a somber shadow over the start of the season for the Penguins and their fans, as the team and the hockey community extend their condolences to the Kuzmenko family.