Jessi Pierce, a beloved hockey reporter in Minnesota, and her three children died in a house fire on Saturday, the NHL confirmed. She was 37.
A fire in Minnesota’s White Bear Lake led to the deaths of one adult and three children, the local fire department told Fox 9, though they did not confirm the victims’ identities.
“The entire National Hockey League family sends our prayers and deepest condolences to the Pierce family on the passing of Jessi Pierce and her three young children,” the NHL said in a statement. “Jessi loved our game and was a valued member of the NHL.com team for a decade. We will miss her terribly.”
The White Bear Lake FD responded to reports of a fire before 5:30 a.m. Saturday after neighbors called 911, and firefighters “found a fully involved structure fire,” per Fox 9.
A deceased dog was also found at the scene.
Pierce shared photos on X Friday from her trip to the “Cup and Cone” ice cream shop in White Bear Lake with her children.
Pierce had covered the Minnesota Wild for NHL.com for the last 10 seasons. She also spent time working for the team and previously wrote for The Athletic. She was a co-host of the Bardown Beauties podcast.
The Iowa State grad also wrote for USA Hockey, the Minnesota Hockey Journal and Massachusetts Hockey, among other publications, per NHL.com.
“The Minnesota Wild organization is heartbroken by the tragic loss of Jessi Pierce and her children,” the Wild said in a statement. “Jessi was a kind, compassionate person that cared deeply about her family and those around her. She served as a dedicated ambassador for the game of hockey during her time covering the Wild and the NHL. Jessi and her children will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to their family, friends, and all who knew and loved them.”
Michael Russo, who covers the Wild for The Athletic, paid tribute to Pierce on X.
“Jessi Pierce (Hinrichs) was the most vibrant person – the life of the party, always with a smile on her face, always bringing a passion to every article and podcast and interview she did. Jessi simply loved covering the Wild and hockey throughout Minnesota and had a way of brightening everyone’s day with her upbeat, bubbly personality. I have literally NEVER met anybody that had a way of being EVERYBODY’s friend.
“More than anything, she absolutely loved Hudson, Cayden and Avery and was the greatest mother who did everything she could to bring joy to her sweetest kids. Even at Friday’s practice in her beloved Iowa State sweatshirt, she was so excited to take them to the seasonal opening of Cup and Cone in WBL. Seeing those precious pics yesterday, she provided them with another incredibly fun and loving day.
“My heart breaks for Mike for the loss of his wife and children and Jessi’s family, friends and colleagues for this unimaginable loss. This hockey community lost a wonderful, energetic and one of a kind voice and story teller and Grade A person. Life can be unbearably unfair sometimes, and it’s impossible to make sense of this tragedy.”
