Story perspectives

Kuzmenko returns to Penguins practice, set for debut

By Drooid · Oct 3, 2026, 2:17 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Andrei Kuzmenko returned to Pittsburgh Penguins practice, switching to jersey No. 62 to honor his late father.
His father Alexander, 62, died in a bear attack while permit-fishing in Siberia on Sept. 22, 2026.
Kuzmenko, who signed a one-year, $5 million contract this summer, will debut Saturday at 7 p.m. ET vs Montreal.
Coach Dan Muse said the team is glad to have him back.

History

Historical Context

After Roberto Clemente’s fatal December 31 1972 plane crash delivering Nicaraguan earthquake aid, MLB Commissioner Bowie A. Kelley announced on April 6 1973 that the Pittsburgh Pirates would permanently retire his No. 21—the league’s first single-player jersey retirement. The move established a precedent for personal tributes, later echoed by the Pittsburgh Penguins’ No. 62 honoring Andrei Kuzmenko’s father, and inspired other teams to embed personal narratives into their histories.

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Story summary

Andrei Kuzmenko returned to Pittsburgh Penguins practice, switching to jersey No. 62 to honor his late father.
His father Alexander, 62, died in a bear attack while permit-fishing in Siberia on Sept. 22, 2026.
Kuzmenko, who signed a one-year, $5 million contract this summer, will debut Saturday at 7 p.m. ET vs Montreal.
Coach Dan Muse said the team is glad to have him back.

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