Pittsburgh Penguins forward Andrei Kuzmenko has returned to Russia ahead of the start of the NHL season after a tragic incident involving his father.
The 27‑year‑old left the United States to be with family in Russia following the death of his father, who was killed by a bear in the region.
In a statement to the team, Kuzmenko said he needed to be with his relatives during the difficult time and would resume his professional commitments once the circumstances allowed.
The Penguins have not yet confirmed a specific date for his return to the roster, but the club has expressed support for the player and his family.
Kuzmenko, who has played 40 games for Pittsburgh in recent seasons, will be eligible to rejoin the team once he is cleared to travel and return to North America.
<small>Source: BBC Sport — read the original story there.</small>
