Pittsburgh Penguins forward Andrei Kuzmenko is taking a leave of absence from the team following the death of his father, Alexander, the team said Thursday. Kuzmenko, 30, was with the Penguins for their practice earlier in the day before departing for Russia.

Russian news outlet Ren.tv. reported that Alexander, 62, was killed by a bear during a fishing trip Tuesday. He was in the Tuva Republic, in southern Siberia, and suffered extensive tissue damage after being bitten in the head by the animal that emerged from a nearby wooded area. The report went on to say that Alexander -- a highly regarded hockey coach in Russia -- was accompanied by six others on the trip, and that they were able to scare the bear off before attempting to get Alexander assistance.

The dense forest didn't allow ambulances to easily reach the group, and it was hours before one was able to find it. Alexander was airlifted to a hospital in Tuva Republic's capital, Kyzyl, but medical interventions were unsuccessful and he was later pronounced dead.

"The Pittsburgh Penguins organization was deeply saddened this morning to learn of the passing of Andrei Kuzmenko's father, Alexander," general manager Kyle Dubas said in a statement. Kuzmenko signed a one-year, $5 million contract with Pittsburgh in July and is entering his fifth NHL season.