A house fire in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, killed NHL reporter Jessi Pierce, her three young children and a dog on Saturday, according to the White Bear Lake Fire Department.
“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 league said in a statement on X.
The fire department said neighbours called 911 to report fire coming through the roof. Response crews arrived to find a “fully involved structure fire”. An adult, three children and a dog died, NBC news reported.
Fire Chief Greg Peterson confirmed that one of the victims was Jessi Pierce, and said Pierce was her professional name while Hinrichs was her married name.
"The fire investigation is ongoing," Peterson said.
Who was Pierce?
Pierce contributed to NHL.com for 10 seasons and covered the Minnesota Wild, her hometown team. NHL.com called Pierce “a fixture on the area’s sports scene” in an obituary online.
NHL.com remembered Pierce as a smiling presence at Grand Casino Arena, “often cloaked in a blanket to combat the cold in the press box.”
The obituary also highlighted her role as a mother, saying Pierce was “intensely proud” of her family. “When Pierce started her family, she would sometimes show up to a Wild practice with one of her young children on her hip, melding family and work into a modern-day package,” the obituary read.
The Minnesota Wild also shared their heartbreak over the loss, remembering Pierce as “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," the team said. "Jessi and her children will be greatly missed."
Michael Russo, a reporter for The Athletic, said on X that “a lot of tears were shed at the arena yesterday” during last night’s game against the Dallas Stars.
“We, in the Wild media and inside the Wild, will miss seeing Jessi everyday, laughing with her everyday,” he added. “The press box and press room won’t be the same without her.”
What was the last post before her death?
In her last post, she posted a photo of a lengthy queue of patient customers standing outside the popular stand, which opened for the start of the season on March 20.
“Cup and cone opening day 3/20/26,” she wrote, before sharing pics of her delighted kids tucking into their treats.
“Bag(s) secured,” she joked.
