A veteran NHL reporter and her three young children have died after a fire tore through their home in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, on Saturday. Jessi Pierce, 37, who covered hockey in Minnesota for a decade, was among four people found dead after the blaze engulfed the house. The NHL confirmed Pierce and her children were killed.
The White Bear Lake Fire Department responded to reports of a fire at a single-family home in the 2100 block of Richard Avenue just before 5:30 a.m. local time. Neighbours who called 911 reported seeing flames shooting through the roof and told the dispatcher that people were likely inside. When crews arrived, the home was fully engulfed, and firefighters located one adult and three children who had died. A dog was also found dead.
Pierce, a graduate of Iowa State, covered the Minnesota Wild for NHL.com for 10 seasons and previously contributed to The Athletic, USA Hockey, the Minnesota Hockey Journal and Massachusetts Hockey. She also co-hosted the "Bardown Beauties" podcast and spent time working directly with the Minnesota Wild, according to an obituary published by NHL.com. Earlier in the day, she had shared photos on X showing her with her children at the local ice cream shop, Cup and Cone.
"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 Minnesota Wild organization added: "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."
Michael Russo, who covers the Wild for The Athletic, described Pierce as "the most vibrant person" and "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." He said she "absolutely loved" her children, Hudson, Cayden and Avery. "My heart breaks for Mike for the loss of his wife and children and Jessi's family, friends and colleagues for this unimaginable loss," he added. White Bear Lake Fire Chief Greg Peterson said: "Our hearts ache for those involved in this tragedy. We ask for the opportunity to allow our community to come together and support one another during this difficult time."
Officials have not yet determined the cause of the fire. The Minnesota State Fire Marshal's Office is leading the investigation.
