Penguins Forward Andrei Kuzmenko to Wear Number 62 in Honor of Father
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Andrei Kuzmenko is changing his jersey number to 62 to honor his father, who died in a bear attack in Russia at age 62.
Evansville, IN, October 2, 2026 — The Pittsburgh Penguins forward Andrei Kuzmenko will be adopting a new jersey number for the upcoming season, switching to number 62.
This change is reportedly in honor of his father, who passed away at the age of 62. According to the information provided, Kuzmenko’s father died in Russia as a result of a bear attack.
The decision to wear number 62 is a personal tribute to his father’s memory and the age at which he died. The specific date or circumstances surrounding the bear attack beyond its occurrence and the father’s age were not detailed.
Kuzmenko, a forward for the NHL team, has previously worn different numbers during his career. The exact number he wore prior to this change was not specified in the summary.
The Pittsburgh Penguins organization has not yet officially commented on the number change publicly, but it is expected to be reflected in team rosters and merchandise moving forward. The team’s schedule for the upcoming season has not been released.
The transition to number 62 marks a significant personal moment for Kuzmenko, connecting his professional identity with a tribute to his late father.
Story summarized from the original created by Associated Press on www.tristatehomepage.com, see more information here.
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