Beloved NHL Reporter Jessi Pierce and Her Three Children Dead in Tragic House Fire

The Minnesota Wild and NHL community mourn the loss of the dedicated hockey journalist and her family.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 5:56pm

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Jessi Pierce, a beloved hockey reporter in Minnesota who covered the Minnesota Wild for NHL.com for the last 10 years, died along with her three children in a house fire on Saturday morning. The local fire department responded to reports of the blaze in White Bear Lake, but the 37-year-old Pierce and her children could not be saved.

Why it matters

Pierce was a well-known and respected figure in the Minnesota hockey community, serving as a dedicated ambassador for the sport. Her tragic death, along with that of her three young children, has left the NHL and Wild organizations devastated and the local community in mourning.

The details

The White Bear Lake Fire Department responded to the fire before 5:30 a.m. on Saturday after neighbors called 911, finding the home fully engulfed. In addition to Pierce and her children, a deceased dog was also found at the scene. Pierce had covered the Minnesota Wild for NHL.com for the last 10 seasons and also worked for the team directly, in addition to writing for other hockey publications.

  • The fire occurred on Saturday, March 22, 2026 before 5:30 a.m.

The players

Jessi Pierce

A 37-year-old hockey reporter who covered the Minnesota Wild for NHL.com for the last 10 seasons and also worked for the team directly, in addition to writing for other hockey publications.

Minnesota Wild

The NHL team that Jessi Pierce covered for the last decade.

National Hockey League

The professional ice hockey league that Jessi Pierce was a valued member of the NHL.com team for.

White Bear Lake Fire Department

The local fire department that responded to the reports of the house fire in White Bear Lake, Minnesota.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Michael Russo, Wild beat writer, The Athletic

“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.”

— Michael Russo, Wild beat writer, The Athletic

The takeaway

The tragic loss of Jessi Pierce and her three children has devastated the Minnesota hockey community, who remember her as a vibrant, passionate, and beloved reporter and mother. Her death serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing every moment with loved ones.