Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins forward Andrei Kuzmenko speaks on decision to switch jersey number following father’s death

Penguins forward Andrei Kuzmenko speaks on decision to switch jersey number following father’s death

PITTSBURGH — Forward Andrei Kuzmenko was back with the Penguins for Saturday’s game against the Canadiens.

He recently returned from Russia, where his father was killed by a bear last month.

Kuzmenko spoke with reporters Friday, saying he will switch his jersey to a new number, 62, to honor both of his parents.

“And now I understand this is my mother’s birth year (of 1962), and my father (was) 62 years (old) when he died. And today, we have 26 years. And I want to take 62 (as a) number.”

Saturday’s game would be Kuzmenko’s debut with the Penguins, after he signed as a free agent during the offseason.

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