A beloved NHL reporter who spent a decade covering the sport she loved was among four people—including her three young children—found dead after a fire tore through a White Bear Lake, Minnesota, home early Friday morning.
At 5:26 a.m. on March 21, firefighters responded to a fully involved structure fire on the 2100 block of Richard Avenue, according to the White Bear Lake
Fire Department. Neighbors who called 911 reported flames breaking through the roof and told dispatchers they believed people were inside.
When crews arrived, they found an adult, three children, and a dog—all of whom had died.
The victims were identified as Jessi Pierce and her three children: Hudson, Cayden and Avery.
Pierce was a fixture in Minnesota hockey media, contributing to publications including USA Hockey, the Minnesota Hockey Journal, Massachusetts Hockey, The Athletic, and the B1G Ice Hockey blog, which covered Big Ten college hockey. She also co-hosted the "Bardown Beauties" podcast about the Minnesota Wild and made appearances on a Minnesota Vikings podcast.
Beyond her freelance work, Pierce was a member of the NHL.com staff for 10 years.
"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, according to NHL Public Relations. "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 also mourned the loss of a journalist who had been a constant presence covering the team. "Jessi was a kind, compassionate person that cared deeply about her family and those around her," the organization said in a
statement on X. "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, a reporter for The Athletic, described Pierce as someone unlike anyone he had ever met. "I have literally NEVER met anybody that had a way of being EVERYBODY's friend," Russo
wrote on X. He recalled seeing Pierce just the day before the fire at a Wild practice, wearing an Iowa State sweatshirt, excited about taking her children to the seasonal opening of a local ice cream shop. "Seeing those precious pics yesterday, she provided them with another incredibly fun and loving day," he wrote.
He extended his condolences to Pierce's husband, Mike, writing: "My heart breaks for Mike for the loss of his wife and children and Jessi's family, friends and colleagues for this unimaginable loss."
Seven fire departments—including units from Vadnais Heights, Mahtomedi, Maplewood, Oakdale, North St. Paul, and Little Canada—along with Lakeview EMS and White Bear Lake Police responded to the scene, the White Bear Lake Fire Department said.
The Minnesota State Fire Marshal's Office is leading an investigation to determine the cause of the fire.
