Penguins' Kuzmenko to switch to No. 62 in honor of father killed in bear attack

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Andrei Kuzmenko will change his jersey number to 62 this season as a tribute to his father, who was killed in a bear attack in Russia last week at the age of 62, according to ESPN.

The number change is a personal gesture from Kuzmenko, who has worn different numbers over his NHL career, to honor his father's memory following the sudden loss. ESPN reported that the attack took place in Russia, where Kuzmenko's father was killed.

Kuzmenko, who joined the Penguins organization as part of a roster that has leaned on veteran forwards in recent seasons, is expected to wear the new number going forward, the report said.

The Penguins have not issued an extensive public statement beyond confirming the number change, and further details about the circumstances of the attack were not included in the original report.

Tributes from teammates and the hockey community often follow such personal losses, though specific reactions from the Penguins locker room were not detailed in the source report.