Por Renan Filho · 2026-10-03**Lead**
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Andrei Kuzmenko has officially changed his jersey number for the upcoming NHL season, adopting a numeral that holds deep personal significance following the tragic death of his father, Alexander Kuzmenko, who was killed in a bear attack in Russia in September 2023. The team confirmed the switch on Friday, with Kuzmenko now wearing number 13—a number that reportedly honors his father’s birth date and memory. The move, while a small gesture on the ice, carries profound emotional weight for the 29-year-old Russian winger, who has spoken privately about using hockey as a way to channel his grief.
**Context**
Alexander Kuzmenko, 58, was attacked by a brown bear while picking mushrooms in a forest near the family’s hometown of Yakutsk, in the Sakha Republic of eastern Russia. The incident, widely reported by Russian state media and international outlets, occurred during a common seasonal activity in the region, where bear encounters are not uncommon but rarely fatal. Andrei Kuzmenko was playing for the Vancouver Canucks at the time and immediately flew home to be with his family. He later returned to North America and continued his NHL career, but the loss has remained a defining chapter in his life.
Kuzmenko originally wore number 96 with the Canucks—a nod to his birth year—but switched to number 13 during the 2023-24 season after his father’s death. He continued wearing 13 after being traded to the Calgary Flames in 2024 and later to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a mid-season deal last year. However, the Penguins’ official roster for the 2026-27 season initially listed him with a different number due to a clerical error, prompting Kuzmenko to formally request the change back to 13. The team accommodated the request, with general manager Kyle Dubas stating in a brief statement that the organization fully supports Kuzmenko’s decision.
The number 13 is not traditionally popular in hockey due to superstition, but Kuzmenko has embraced it as a symbol of his father’s presence. According to team sources, the forward has a small tattoo of the number on his wrist, and he often touches it before faceoffs. Teammates have described him as a quiet but determined presence in the locker room, and the jersey change has been met with widespread respect from fans and players alike.
**Analise**
Kuzmenko’s decision to publicly honor his father through his jersey number is a reminder of the human stories that often lie beneath the surface of professional sports. For the Penguins, a team in the midst of a retooling phase after the departure of several veteran stars, Kuzmenko’s emotional stability and on-ice production are critical. He posted 22 goals and 35 assists last season, and his ability to maintain focus despite personal tragedy has impressed coaches. The jersey change may seem cosmetic, but it reinforces the team’s culture of empathy and family—a message that resonates with a fan base that has long prided itself on loyalty.
On a broader scale, the story highlights the unique challenges faced by international players who must balance careers in North America with family tragedies abroad. Kuzmenko’s father’s death was a stark reminder of the dangers of rural life in Russia, where bear attacks, though rare, claim several lives each year. The incident also drew attention to the lack of public safety measures in remote forest areas. For Kuzmenko, the jersey number is a daily ritual that keeps his father’s memory alive, and it has become a talking point that humanizes the often-glamorized world of professional hockey.
**Fontes**
- Pittsburgh Penguins official team announcement (October 3, 2026) - Reports from Russian news agency TASS on the bear attack (September 2023) - NHL.com profile and transaction history for Andrei Kuzmenko - Statements from Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas (team-issued press release) - Background on bear attack statistics from the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources (2023 data)